Letter to the Editor: Dead trees in Ukiah’s western hills are a safety issue

Dear Editor:

Fire season is upon us once again. Firewise councils throughout Mendocino County are working to mitigate the danger of wildfires by educating the public about home-hardening. This includes removing foliage from 5 feet around our houses, sealing eaves and other places embers can penetrate, siding homes with concrete paneling instead of wood, not having combustible fencing or buildings connected to our dwellings, and replacing combustible roofing with fire resistant types. All of this is great.

However, there is a public safety issue that is not being addressed: the stands of dead fir trees in the western hills above Ukiah. Everyone can see them. Many of our native trees have evolved to withstand wildfires, and living trees contain moisture and will slow the progress of a fire. However, should a fire erupt, these dead trees will dramatically increase the intensity of a fire and hinder efforts to contain it. With a strong wind, embers flying into urban areas will put many homes at risk. 

This is a public safety issue. Addressing the removal of this dangerous fuel load will need a collaborative effort between state and local fire entities, Mendocino County and the City of Ukiah. Should a fire erupt and damage property, it is conceivable that there could be liability to both the property owners and/or public agencies for the failure to mitigate this danger. In the case of property owners who do not wish to allow Cal Fire or the fire authority access to their property, they should be made aware of possible liability that may be associated with the failure to reduce the fuel load by removing these dead trees. 

The Western Hills Firewise Community is ready to work with all concerned to address this dangerous issue. We call upon our local and state agencies to create a plan to reduce this dangerous fuel load.

Editor’s Note: This letter was sent to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, Ukiah City Manager and City Council, Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Mendocino County Cal Fire, and State Assemblymember Chris Rogers