Weed abatement important to prevent fires

Merced County fire chiefs are poised to ramp up their weed-abatement efforts after heavy El Niño rains have encouraged growth of weeds that, coupled with lingering drought conditions, could be cause for an ugly fire season.

All over Merced County, emerald green weeds have sprung up in vacant lots, the countryside and the hills. Fire crews are hoping more rain comes and that residents bring tall weeds under control before fire season.

“We’re entering our fifth year of drought conditions, and we’ve got some extremely dry hazardous fuels,” said Mark Lawson, assistant division chief with the Merced County Fire Department. “However, we have received some decent rainfall. That’s contributed to a fairly substantial grass crop. That grass crop reacts quickly to warm temperatures, which is a perfect or excellent vehicle for extreme fire conditions.”

Lawson, along with fire Chiefs Shawn Henry from Merced and Tim Marrison from Los Banos, encourage property owners to keep weeds under control to prevent fires.

“I suspect we’re going to have a very, very busy year again,” Lawson said.

In Los Banos, the fire department already has started the abatement process. Property owners who received notices have until April 1 to comply before the fire department sends out abatement crews. Property owners will receive an invoice from the city for the abatement crews’ work, Marrison said.

The county fire department will begin property inspections for weed abatement beginning April 1. In the city of Merced, crews will begin surveying lots April 4 and sending notices to property owners who need to clear weeds.

“There will be penalties if we do have fires on properties that we’ve sent notices to,” Henry said. “If we send out crews to abate the weeds, there can be liens placed against their property.”

Henry said the city still encourages residents to keep a brown lawn, but the grass should be no taller than 2 inches.

Marrison said with the anticipation of more rain dropping in the coming months, the weeds will continue to grow even if they’re mowed.

“Due to late rains, which I hope we’re going to have this year, we’re going to have a lot of regrowth,” Marrison said. “It will actually require the property owner do it (weed abatement) twice this year.”

Marrison said the fire department depends on neighbors to report vacant or abandoned lots that need weed abatement. Often, fires are started in vacant buildings where homeless people have set up places to cook.

“It could cause a severe threat to that property as well as to the neighbors in a very short period of time,” he said.

“They need to provide clearance for us to get in there and protect structures and protect lives and property,” Lawson said. “(Property owners) need to get in there and abate that so we can get in there and do our job. Help us help you.”

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Weed abatement important to prevent fires."