Defensible Space
Creating a defensible space is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home. Generally you should start near your house and work outward. Pick the most important things that you can do quickly and affordably first and move outward.
Click on image to expand
Fire Hardening Your Home
Keep your gutters and roofs including roof to wall junctions (dormers, chimney chases) clear of leaves and debris.
Replace wood shingle roofs with a fire resistant roof
Make sure all vents have 1/8 inch screening (except dryer vents)
Eliminate wood attachments like fences connected to your house (replace with a metal gate or metal fence section)
Eliminate flammable materials around your home (0-5 ft) and deck, especially any dry flammable materials, mulch and plants near windows.
During a wildfire move anything burnable—such as patio furniture or gas BBQ tanks—30 feet away from structures.
Defensible Space Landscaping
The Three R's of Defensible Space:
Removal - plants, particularly trees and shrubs, but especially pyrophytic vegetation
Reduction -remove low tree branches, prune dead wood from shrubs and mow dry grasses
Replacement- plant less flammable plants
Hydrant Compatibility
During the October, 2017 fires, the incoming fire engines from other areas outside Napa County had difficulty accessing the water sources from our local water tanks. The current standard in Napa for all new buildings is for a 4.5" discharge on all wet draft hydrants. Engines from other counties did not have this size adapter so could not get water from the available water sources. A solution is to purchase a 4.5" female NH to 2.5" male NH adapter to place on your 4.5" wet draft hydrant. A 2.5" cap is also recommended. The 2.5" discharge side of the adapter is a common size for all fire engines. You can search for this item online. From one source, the aluminum alloy version shown costs about $100, has free shipping and it is worth every penny.
If your wet draft hydrant supply comes from a swimming pool use a brass adapter. Aluminum alloy fittings will corrode over time when exposed to pool water and may eventually fail.
VERY IMPORTANT!! MAKE SURE THE THREADS ARE NATIONAL HOSE THREADS (NH/NST) OR IT CAN'T CONNECT TO A FIRE ENGINE HOSE.
911 Address Signs
911 Address Signs Provide Better Visibility for Emergency Vehicles.
It is essential for all houses to have proper address signs for responders to identify your house. In addition, Napa County has address sign requirements including reflectivity and lettering size.
Purchase online by clicking below or download the 911 Reflective Address Order Form and mail it to us.
Before
After
Private Bridges
Will a Fire Engine cross your bridge to fight a fire at your house?
We have many bridges that cross the creeks in our area. These bridges need to be certified by a structural engineer so that all fire engines can safely cross the bridge to provide important emergency services. Please see the example to the right, of a local bridge that has completed the process. This ensures that both local and visiting engines would cross your bridge.
Fire Department Access
Knox secure key entry systems are required for all locked and electric home access gates in Napa County. The required locks are keyed to the Napa County Fire Department (including, Dry Creek Lokoya FD) keys. Only the FD has keys. Different ways to allow entry include: a padlock, a key switch lock when power is available, or a box to hold a key to mechanically release your gate when power is not available.
Padlock (#3771)
Key switch lock (#3501) mounted on key pad
Key storage box (#3200 series), surface mount example
At the Knox Co. website you need to select ‘Cal Fire/Napa Co Fire’ as your FD if you live in unincorporated Napa County. The Napa City key is different.