Spring In Carmel Valley
Los Tulares Firewise Action Plan
YEAR ONE-2023
1. Educational programs
a. On June 9, 2022, Monterey County Fire Marshall/Division Chief, Kevin Kamnikar, met with residents of Los Tulares,
which includes Vista Verde, Via Los Tulares, Via La Gitana, Via La Estrella, and Via La Naranga, to introduce the FireWise
Program and present information about how to create defensible spaces and steps required for compliance to become a
Firewise Community.
b. On July 19, 2022, Monterey County Fire Marshall/Division Chief, Kevin Kamnikar toured the defensible spaces
surrounding eight homes in the Los Tulares community. Approximately 15 home-owners participated Fire Marshal
Kamnikar’s inspections and a total of 6 hours was spend being educated on FireWise, home hardening and defensible
space requirements. An overview of results and lessons learned was shared with Los Tulares homeowners through email.
Results from the 8 homes inspected by Fire Marshall Kamnikar identified the following top three areas of concern: Soffit
vent screening (50%), Immediate 0-5 ft zone (87.5%) and intermediate 5-30 ft zone (75%).
c. We will distribute educational information and online links to residents via the Los Tulares Firewise website with fuel
reduction, proper landscaping, safety tips and state mandated requirements.
d. All homeowners will be invited to attend a community educational session and be provided resources to assure
compliance with state laws.
e. We will work with local fire departments to maintain compliance while recognizing that Monterey County ordinances
restrict cutting and removal of coastal live oak trees that are common in our community and subject to local drought
and diseases.
2. Fuel reduction efforts and maintenance of defensible space
a. Targeted involvement (individual home owners) We will work with individual homeowners to:
• Comply with current recommendations and legislation regarding the immediate ember free 0-5 foot home zone.
• Clear brush and create appropriate tree spacing/limbing within the intermediate 5-30 ft Zone.
• Encourage homeowners to install <1/8” mesh to cover soffit vents where applicable.
• Ensure that home addresses are present and visible on each property
• Ensure responder Access—We will discuss emergency vehicle access needs with neighbors to ensure 16’ overhead
clearance for emergency vehicles. Also discuss appropriate spacing of parking to ensure 24 hour 12’ clearance for
emergency vehicles access
• Ensure Emergency Evacuation preparedness by working with neighbors to develop “go packs” and family evacuation
plans and be sure everyone knows the emergency egress.
• We will post information regarding fire-safe vegetation, removing flammable materials and debris, and installing
hardscape materials on the website.
b. Targeted involvement of the HOA Boards of Vista Verde and Los Tulares (The Los Tulares
community:
• Improve visibility of roadway signage where needed (e.g. unmarked/confusing road intersections).
• Maintain and distribute a list of all residents’ emergency contact information. Establish a phone tree for distribution
of safety messages that alerts residents of wildfire threats in the area, and help coordinate evacuation.
• Advise all residents to register for: emergency alerts thru Alert Monterey County, Watch Duty, etc.
• We will reduce fuel load along roadways to provide safe passage for emergency vehicles. This will include annual
brush/tree trimming and grass cutting to less than four inches.
• Compile fire safety education materials and distribute to new homeowners.
YEAR TWO-2024
1. Educational programs
• Post on the website links to educational materials and encourage compliance with fire safety guidelines, and
highlight accomplishments to date.
• Review the action plan and goals of the Firewise Program at annual HOA and FireWise education meetings. Update
action plan goals as needed or when new legislation is enacted.
• Conduct annual community gatherings to continue education of wildfire risk reduction. Ask residents in advance for
submission of topics of interest. These can include evacuation routes, and preparing the home for evacuation. We
will coordinate with local agencies for educational materials and guest speakers (Fire Safe Council for Monterey,
Monterey County Regional Fire District, Marin Master Gardeners, CA Department of Insurance, etc.).
• Decide on the safest locations to gather if egress is blocked.
• Update materials on home safety and emergency preparedness to be included in new residents’ welcome packets.
• Become active members of Monterey Bay Fire Wise by developing relationships with other FireWise communities to
promote and host firesmart/home hardening educational events.
2. Fuel reduction efforts and maintaining defensible space
a. Targeted involvement (Individual homeowners).
• Attempt to increase the percentage of properties that replace wooden decks and skirting with less flammable
materials. We will work with residents to encourage the use of fire safe products and construction materials.
• Educate and encourage the removal of fire-prone vegetation, the thinning of vegetation for appropriate spacing for
property slope and the limbing of trees within 30 feet of all buildings. Promote appropriate vegetation management
and the removal of distressed or dead vegetation.
• Hold a free chipper event.
• Remove tree limbs that may encroach on 16’ clearance of roads and require neighbors to maintains a 12’ clearance
for emergency vehicle passage.
b. Targeted involvement (HOA Boards and community):
• Establish a well-marked emergency evacuation route onto East Carmel Valley Rd.
• Coordinate a genista-removal project seeking residents’ volunteer labor.
• Develop and maintain relationships with residents of surrounding properties including Klondike Canyon. Discuss
condition and use of possible evacuation route from upper Via La Gitana to Klondike Canyon.
• Maintain vegetation along roadways for fuel reduction and passage of emergency vehicles. This will include annual
brush/tree trimming and grass cutting to less than four inches. As needed, seek supplemental funding such as
grants and/or increased budget from homeowners’ fees.
YEAR THREE-2025
1. Educational programs
• Conduct the annual fire safety meeting for all residents. Topics will be customized based on a survey of residents
needs/interests and any concerns brought forward by the Board of Directors. We will coordinate with the Monterey
County Regional Fire District, local Fire Departments, and/or the Fire Safe Council for Monterey County and ask
them to provide presentations.
• Continue to promote educational events online and live for 2025 in coordination with MontereyBayFireWise, the
local fire department, and other local Firewise Communities, while continuing to focus on home hardening,
firesmart landscaping, and zone zero to 30’ feet.
• Update the Firewise Community Wildfire Risk Assessment to include new residents and monitor progress.
• Publish safety tips in HOA newsletters and discuss these topics at our annual HOA meetings. We will also discuss
Firewise program progress, encourage participation, update goals, and answer questions.
• Organize a residents’ effort to pull genista along shared roadways.
2. Fuel reduction and maintaining defensible space
a. Targeted involvement with individual homeowners:
• Encourage residents to replace flammable roofing materials with a fire-resistant option.
• Encourage residents to replace single-pane windows with multi-pane.
• Encourage the removal of fire-prone vegetation, the thinning of vegetation for appropriate spacing for slope and the
proper maintenance of vegetation and removal of distressed/dead plants. Encourage the limbing of larger trees
within 30 feet of all residences.
• Encourage the replacement of wooden fences--and more importantly wooden gates--with metal fencing.
• Encourage maintenance of debris removal from roofs, rain gutters, and around foundations/zone zero; appropriate
ember arresting vents; removal of flammable materials from underneath decks; and the appropriate application of
ember arresting enclosures under decks.
b. Targeted involvement (HOA Boards and community):
• Continue to reduce fuel load and maintain safe clearance along roadways for passage of emergency vehicles.
• As needed, seek additional funding from grants, or an increase in HOA budget (from residents' fees).
• Maintain open communication with local fire department staff, Monterey Bay Fire Wise, and Fire Safe Council
members. Collaborate with local fire departments to assess roadways for adequate ingress/egress for emergency
vehicles. Discuss how local ponds, swimming pools and water reservoirs could be better utilized in the event of a fire.
• Continue to develop and maintain relationships with residents.
• Develop and maintain relationships with residents of the adjacent Klondike Canyon area. Discuss condition and use
of possible evacuation route from upper Via La Gitana to Klondike Canyon.
• Work with HOAs and neighbors to conduct a full dress-rehearsal, emergency evacuation drill.