What can you do if your 100 foot defensible space is on your neighbors property, and your neighbor doesn’t maintain it?
Contact Erick Hernandez: (707) 299-7645
What are the requirements for the reflective address signs?
The letters must be a minimum of 4” high with a strike width of 1/2” and “reflectorized” with a contrasting background.
How do I get involved to help?
Fill out this form, and someone will get in touch with you.
Is there anything I can do in my neighborhood to make it safer?
Talk to your neighbors. Start by getting and installing reflective address signs, plan your evacuation route and find out who might need help, pack your Go Bag (see link here).
How do I get someone out to look at my property for fire preparedness (a Home Advisory Defensible Space inspection)?
Contact the Cal Fire St. Helena Station: (707) 967-1467
What is the Privacy Policy with respect to my PPI provided with respect to registration on this site? Who might have access to this PPI?
See the NCFF Privacy Policy here.
What does all this do for the residents in the Unincorporated Areas – contingent to the City Limits of Calistoga?
The Calistoga FSC represents all residents in Napa County in the 94515 Zip Code, except for those represented by the Diamond Mountain FSC which covers Diamond Mountain, Khartoum Canyon, and Tucker Road.
Are the fire sirens located within the city limit of Calistoga now up and running?
What about sirens for outside city limits?
How often are they tested?
When is the last time they were blasted and heard within the city limit?
There are Three (3) sirens located within the City limits and Two (2) in the County Just outside the City. The City has control of all Five (5) sirens. The sirens will be tested monthly on a rotating basis. All the sirens were tested during installation.
I live alone, no longer drive and have no car. I am 89 yrs. of age and the distance I can walk is limited. My question: how do I arrange getting out of the area during a “Get out Now evacuation?” A no-warning emergency makes me uneasy.
In the best case scenario, (assuming you don’t have family nearby) it would be great if you had the kind of relationship with your neighbors where you could create a plan that involves all of you evacuating together. If that is not a reasonable scenario for some reason, then the best thing to do would be to call 911 and ask for help evacuating. Realize however, that first responders may not be able to get to you immediately depending on the circumstances.
Very interested in grants/funding for vegetation management on personal property, including chipping, wood cutting of downed/dead trees, and getting PG&E to do the work they said they were going to do on tree removal.
For chipping, if you’re in Napa County, sign up here.
For PG&E, contact Supervisor Diane Dillon’s office: Diane.Dillon@countyofnapa.org
For wood cutting of downed or dead trees, there are a number of contractors and tree services that you can contract with to remove them–this one is probably on you.
What are the best ways to protect one’s home in a neighborhood?
Follow all the recommendations from NCFF, Cal Fire, and local jurisdictions. In addition, you might consider removing flammable material – including mulch within 5 feet of your structure’s wall to reduce ignition from embers. Ensuring embers cannot enter vents also bolsters ignition prevention.
What bushes, trees and other plants are least combustible, and which ones are most combustible?
See the resources listed here.
What kind of fire action do you expect when as it affects Calistoga?
We are expecting a very busy fire season. Cal Fire has hired extra firefighting crews this year which should help keep the fires small.
When will the city fire department address underbush behind Pink Mansion, Terrace dr and though High street and beyond?
Calistoga fire department is actively inspecting properties and trying to gain compliance.
What is the best way to stay in touch with loved ones? Meaning, is texting or emailing best over calling? Would it be possible to explain, at a layman’s level, the technical aspects to support the suggested method? For example, texting is best because it has a broad bandwidth and frees up much-needed lines for first responders.
When phone lines are compromised or overburdened, texting seems to be the best method of communication.
For people who do not have access to computers or mobile devices, which is the best way for them to communicate with loved ones without tying up the landlines?
If one does not have access to mobile phones or computers, then the last resort would be the landlines. While there may be concern that you would be tying up a resource, you can always keep the conversation brief. Letting family or friends know you are safe can save a lot of time for first responders who are otherwise asked to check on your welfare.
Is there any way that the area that is not on the PG&E generators can be connected to another generator system, perhaps through PG&E?
If the power runs through PG&E tier two areas there is not an option at this time.
On a hillside, how much more defensible space beyond 100 feet is needed?
It’s recommended that you clear as much space as possible.
Re: decks off ground on a hill, nothing stored under, however, is there a material that can be put on the underside of the deck surface that would slow fire ignition of the deck?
There are products available that can be used such as sheetrock, hardy board and other products. You can consult with your local building supply companies.
How do folks get the evacuation tags? Is that something public safety will distribute?
Tags are free and can be picked up at any of the locations listed on the County of Napa website.
Source of revenues to Calistoga, along with sales tax.
Some of the main revenues for the City are: Transient Occupancy Tax, Property tax, Sales Tax, Grants.
Neighbor refuses access to PGE to clear trees under power lines which is fire hazard for us, anything we can do?
PG&E has an easement around their power lines, and when a consumer refuses them access to those lines, it is up to PG&E to assert their rights to access those trees.
Are plumbed generators ok?
Yes, as long as they were installed by licensed contractors and were inspected.
How is Tedeschi Field impacted by PG&E generator?
There is no impact to the field itself. They will actually benefit from parking lot improvements
How is this information being communicated to non-english speaking populations?
There will be another similar event that will be hosted entirely in Spanish. The date hasn’t been set for it, but it will be announced soon.
How do I get someone to come to my place?
If you live in the County areas of Calistoga, contact our St. Helena Station at (707) 967-1467
Our homeowners went from $8,000 to $19,000 in 2019 – our agent has informed us it will increase again this year. What is being done to ensure that homeowners in our area are not gouged on coverage? Many large insurance carriers are dropping coverage in our area according to our agent in St. Helena. If residents can’t get coverage, they can’t rebuild.
This is a huge problem that affects all residents and businesses in wildfire impacted areas. The state has been working to press this matter with the industry as well as gain support from the Feds but the industry is well lobbied. Keep sharing your concerns with your state and federal elected representatives.
On CIty of Calistoga street sidewalk, in front of our home, who is responsible for trimming tops of trees that are approaching electrical wires?
I think PG&E is
What is the list of features to add to an address sign.
Turnaround (will a firetruck be able to turnaround), water tank availability (including size and the diameter of the connection), swimming pool.
What about property adjacent to a creek? I understand that the County prevents the owners from cutting or trimming trees by a creek/river, even if the trees are less than 15 ft from structures.
Information regarding clearing and working around creeks and wetlands can be found here: https://www.countyofnapa.org/DocumentCenter/View/16620/Water-Quality-and-Tree-Protection-Ordinance-Implementation-Guide.
If you have specific questions regarding your particular scenario, it is best to contact Napa County Planning, Building and Environmental Services at 707-253-4417. Explain that you have questions about clearing near a waterway and they will be able to address your specific questions.
If you are removing brush and conifers like Douglas Fir within 200 feet of your home, are there any permit requirements? What about beyond the 200-foot limit? In general, when does clearing for fire run into permit issues?
For questions relating to clearing of trees in the unincorporated areas of Napa County, the best practice is to contact Napa County Planning, Building and Environmental Services at 707-253-4417. Ask to speak with someone regarding tree removal and they will walk you through your particular scenario.
How does one find out about cost-sharing and grant opportunities?
See the Napa Resource Conservation District for applications for the EQIP program and CAL FIRE for the California Forest Improvement Program.
Are green address signs needed/useful for in town residences?
Yes, It’s important so that it’s easy for first responders to find all addresses.
If one needs to evacuate their home, should they leave the home unlocked?
The best course of action would be to have an evacuation tag ready to go and when you evacuate, place the tag so it can be seen by first responders and lock your doors. The tag serves the purpose of letting first responders know that all in your household have safely evacuated, and also lets law enforcement know that they should investigate if they see someone on or about your property.
If a fire break has been plowed through your property once, will they do it again?
Fire breaks put in during a wildland fire are usually not maintained thereafter. Outside of an emergency incident, an environmental review would need to be conducted and on file, if CAL FIRE performs the work.
Are the keys to security gates standard throughout the state fire departments or different? Is this a problem?
The Knox system of keys for driveway gates are a specific key cut for each “County” or “City”. The system works very well and provides local fire and law departments to make access to your home without damaging your gate.