The Facts About Open Space Fire Mitigation

We recognize the warm weather and drier-than-usual conditions and have heard your concerns regarding our Town-maintained open space and the potential for wildfires in urban landscapes. The Parks & Recreation Department utilizes several strategies to implement sustainable, natural resource stewardship. The health of the resource and public safety are key goals of developing management strategies for individual properties.

The Myth

Tall grasses are a fire hazard. They need mowed to prevent a fire.

The Facts

• Mowing tall grasses does not remove the fire fuel load. Cut grasses are concentrated on the ground and will dry quickly which may result in a hotter fire.
• Tall, actively growing grasses act as “water reservoirs" and stay greener longer through the growing season compared to mowed areas. These actively growing grasses provide a level of defense against a stronger-intensity wildfire.
• Healthy native grasses help to out-compete cheat grass and other invasive winter annual grasses that are known to achieve monoculture and create altered and extremely dangerous wildland fire regimes. 

Parks & Recreation Mitigation Strategies

• There are more than 900 acres of native grass within the Town's open space portfolio; repeatedly mowing entire open space areas is not a realistic or effective tactic for fire prevention.
• However, the Town does mow a curtesy strip behind fences and homes that back to Town maintained open space areas, as well as along Town maintained trails. Fence line mowing prevents weed growth and provides some level of fire protection, while trailside mowing provides an excellent fire break. Fence lines are mowed at least twice a growing season, and trail edges are mowed monthly from May through October.
• Town staff plan to begin fence line mowing operations on Monday, April 25. This will take approximately two weeks to complete.

What YOU as a Homeowner Can Do

If you are concerned about the potential for damage to your property, your best defense is to maintain your lawn. If there are trees or shrubs adjacent to the natural area and close to structures, you might consider removing them utilizing a licensed arborist. Removing brush build-up in and around your yard reduces fuel for wildfire spread. When landscaping, maintain a distance between plantings and structures, especially trees. 

Another local resource to learn about fire mitigation at home is Wildfire Partners. This program is intended for mountain communities, but the advice and strategies for retrofitting your home to mitigate fire dangers can be just as relevant in our urban areas. You can view a photo gallery and explanation of possible projects you can do at your home for greater fire protection. 

Also set yourself and your family up to receive emergency notifications. View the Town's Emergency Preparedness page for more details on how to sign up for alerts and other ways to be prepared.