PASADENA, Calif. — Pasadena resident Alex Villicana has lived hillside since 1974. His hillside home was threatened roughly 15 years ago when a house down the street caught fire.
“It was a big fire,” Villicana said. “It looked like it was going to take the whole neighborhood.”
His neighborhood is in one of Pasadena’s high hazard severity zones. The Pasadena Fire Department will be inspecting over 4,000 homes over the next three months in preparation for fire season.
Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin is asking residents in these zones to create a defensive barrier and clear away vegetation.
“We’re asking you to remove all dead trees, and keep grass and weeds mowed within 100 feet of any building and 10 feet of the roadway,” Augustin said. “Remove dead limbs, branches and other combustible matter from trees, or other growing vegetation that could affect or touch your residence.”
Villicana and his wife keep their hillside manicured as much as they can, especially during heatwaves and fire season. He also had the trees near his property cut so they didn’t touch the home.
The high hazard zones are based on factors including weather, topography and previous fire history. The fire department will inspect homes free of cost.
If a homeowner is asked to remove vegetation, they must comply with the department, or eventually face warnings or fines in the hundreds of dollars.
For more information, residents can call 626-744-4668 or visit the city website.