The following guide will assist you in complying with the requirements of the weed abatement program of
San Joaquin County and make your property "Fire Safe."

FIRE HAZARD: (Defined for the purpose of weed abatement). Generally, any dry grasses or weedsgrasses, weeds, trash, or rubbish that when exposed to an ignition source, could ignite and-threaten or prove harmful to life, property, and or the
environment.

FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION: DRY GRASSES OR WEEDS, WHICH HAVE BEEN DEEMED A FIRE
HAZARD, SHALL BE ABATED AND KEPT ABATED THRDUGHOUT THE FIRE SEASON.

The time period designated as ''FIRE SEASON" generally begins May 1st and ends October 30th, or any other time of the year that weather conditions may constitute unseasonably dry conditions.

A DEFENDABLE SPACE shall be created around all structures, and other combustible properties and
property lines, using one or more of the acceptable methods outlined below. Defendable Space is an area
immediately adjacent to combustible properties, which has been cleared of combustibles, dry grasses and
weeds, to create and maintain a minimum firebreak.
The recognized MINIMUM FIREBREAK is generally as follows:

• Properties LESS than 2 acres: The entire property to be abated. 
• Properties MORE than 2 acres: 100 foot firebreak around all structures and property lines. It is the option of the Fire District to abate the whole property when surrounding exposure warrants it. If you are in question, please contact your fire district.
• Pasture or Farm Land: 15 foot firebreak around property lines and 100 foot around all structures and combustible exposures, (haystacks, barns,etc)
• Property owners are required to provide large firebreaks on properties that have limited access, insufficient water supply and contain a high fire load.
• Note: The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors has also adopted an ordinance requiring the property owner to maintain the public right of way adjacent to their property free of tire hazards.

Acceptable methods of making firebreaks:

• Discing or Rotor-tilling: (Preferred Method) Grasses and weeds may be disc or rotor-tilled to reduce the hazard or to create a firebreak. Laying the weeds over with a drag device is not acceptable.
• Cutting/Mowing: Grasses and weeds that have been cut or mowed must be REMOVED or SPREAD so as not to present a fire hazard and the remaining vegetation growth shall be maintained at "NO HIGHER THAN 4 INCHES".
• PROPERTIES WITH LIVESTOCK: Grasses and weeds may be abated by the use of livestock.

However, all other firebreaks and defendable space guidelines still apply. A 15 ft. firebreak around property lines is required, and it is still the option of the Fire District to abate weeds on properties where the amount of animals on the property could not maintain a reasonably safe fire condition.