In the recent notice titled “Lot/Common Area Maintenance Policy”, the board is
recommending to the membership that the Cal Fire information posted on the RDS
website, www.ranchodelsol.org/, be reviewed. These documents really do not
pertain to RDS or to the maintenance policy the board is suggesting.
The Cal Fire “Structural Fire Prevention Field Guide” is an engineering field
guide for agency staff, not a property owner’s guide for fire mitigation in an
existing development such as Rancho del Sol. The “Notice of Fire Hazard
Inspection” form is regarding structural defense recommendations, not common
area roadsides.
When fire agencies were asked about the most effective way to “remedy” unsafe
fire fuels in high risk areas, their response was for neighbors to talk to one
another and work together to get the job done. They found that issuing edicts
and fining people for noncompliance rarely yielded appreciable results.
The board’s proposed maintenance program on private land is not mandated by Cal
Fire; and RDS property owners are not obligated by any brush or tree setback
ruling. Below are some suggested links to learn more about defensible space and
protecting your property. The question now is “how to protect ourselves from
the board”?
Surviving Wildfire “A Wakeup Call” (Informational Guide and Book)
www.survivingwildfire.com/
El Dorado County Fire Safe Council
www.edcfiresafe.org/
Ready for Wildfire (Are you ready?) Cal Fire
www.readyforwildfire.org/Fire
Fire Adapted Communities
www.fireadapted.org/
“Be Ready-Be Safe” Video on Defensive Space
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBENt6TiJTA&feature=youtu.be4&feature=youtu.be
The Ethics and Rules Working Group encourages you NOT TO RESPOND to any ballot
you may receive on the subject of enacting harsh rules and regulations as part
of our governing documents.