Nearly 21 percent of homes in San Diego County face extreme wildfire risk, according to a study by insurers released Wednesday.
San Diego County has 239,369 homes in the high wildfire risk category, second only to Los Angeles County which has the most high wildfire risk homes in the entire state with 417,543 homes, the study finds. In Los Angeles County, however, that still comes out to be just 12 percent of that county’s homes.
With the peak of fire season expected in October, the study is a reminder that clearing property vegetation can reduce fire risk, said Holly Crawford, director of the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services.
“Predictions call for a higher than normal chance of large fires in our community this season,” said Crawford. “With so many of us living in areas susceptible to wildland fires, it drives home the importance of creating defensible space around homes and taking action to make sure our families are prepared to evacuate if necessary.”
Analysts used 2010 census data to determine the risk for each property by looking at the amount, type and spacing of vegetation and trees considered “fuel” for wildfires by firefighters; the grade of the surrounding land, which can influence speed and intensity of a wildfire; and the condition and network of roads leading to the property. It was compiled in a Wildfire Risk Assessment Project report issued by the Insurance Information Network of California and Verisk Insurance Solutions Underwriting unit.
Thom Porter, San Diego County Fire Authority Chief and CAL FIRE Unit Chief said property owners can reduce the fuel for wildfires by clearing brush near their homes and properly maintaining their landscaping.
“What landowners really need to do is provide the defense and that comes in the form of defensible space and doing everything they can to keep their house from igniting either by direct flames, embers or infringement,” said Porter. “So once the landowner has provided their best defense, then that allows CAL FIRE and other fire agencies the opportunity to provide the offense.”
To learn more about how to minimize wildfire risk on your property, visit www.ReadySanDiego.org and click on the Wildfire Public Awareness Campaign button. Specific tips are included in wildfire guide, which is available in English and Spanish. Information is also available at www.readyforwildfire.org.
The purpose of the report was to help insurers effectively manage potential losses by rating policies based on the risk and managing those properties. The study also noted that not all homes in the extreme to high fire-risk category are in mountain and rural communities, many are in densely-populated neighborhoods. For more information, visit www.iinc.org.
