By Heather Macdonald
“I smell smoke!!”
Those words strike fear into the hearts of Nevada County residents, but local businesses and organizations can help people to make their properties fire resistant.
“People reach out to us because they want that information,” says Fire Safe Council of Nevada County Executive Director Jamie Jones. The nonprofit was formed to aid both home and business owners become fire safe. The agency will come out and assess defensible space, home hardening issues and landscaping challenges such as trees and bushes on the property. It takes about an hour. The council’s advisors use a special software program that renders a full report to help the home or business owner. Never will any government agency see the report.
“And nothing is shared with any enforcement agency,” said the Nevada County native.
Many residents want to know how to create defensible space and home hardening, but don’t want the county involved with their property. The nonprofit works with the home or business owner so they can decide what next steps to take to make their properties fire resistant.
Action plan for roof
One of the largest companies who helps with the task of making properties fire resistant is Byers. Since 1995, the family-owned Grass Valley company has expanded its business and services, but continues with the company core of installing top-quality roof gutters.
“You must provide a means to keep debris from collecting in your gutters as of 2010 building codes,” said General Manager Jeff Fierstein, who has been with Byers for years. He has seen their patented gutters keep leaves from accumulating with their specially angled system. LeafGuard keeps leaves out, but allows rain water to slide off.
In addition, Byers can replace the entire roof according to the new fire codes for roof material replacement.
Action plan for turf
Artificial turf can also be a part of home hardening.
Annie Costa, co-owner of Tuffgrass Inc. with husband Paul Costa, took some of their artificial turf to the county’s Eric W. Rood Administrative Center, where it was set on fire. It melted.
“It has been tested under fire, and high-heat artificial grass will not combust,” Annie Costa says.
Tuffgrass has grown and become a major seller of artificial turf in Sacramento and the foothills since their early beginnings demonstrating their product at the Nevada County Fair, even installing a good patch for the fairgrounds.
Fire Safe Council of Nevada County
www.AreYouFireSafe.com
Byers
www.ThatsByers.com
Tuffgrass Inc.
www.Tuffgrass.com
