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Fire department outlines defensible-space rules and targeted grazing proposal for Oak Park hillsides
Summary
Ventura County Fire Department briefed the Oak Park MAC on the long-running Fire Hazard Reduction Program, reminded property owners of a 100-foot defensible-space requirement, described the State's forthcoming Zone 0 rule, and said a 37.3-acre grazing/fuel-reduction grant is under consideration for slopes above Churchwood.
Captain Sharp of the Ventura County Fire Department’s Oak Park Station described the county’s Fire Hazard Reduction Program and the steps property owners and the public should take to reduce wildfire risk. "The program requires property owners to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures," he said, and he noted the State’s upcoming Zone 0 requirement for enhanced vegetation management within five feet of structures.
The presentation covered enforcement steps for noncompliant properties, including notices, abatement and the potential for property liens if landowners repeatedly fail to comply. Captain Sharp encouraged residents to report hazards to the county for evaluation and said properties outside the Fire Hazard Reduction Program may be referred to the appropriate agency for action. Council members and residents raised questions about management on public lands and utility easements; Captain Sharp reiterated that Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District contracts for vegetation management on its properties.
Supervisor Gorell's office told the MAC that the County has requested Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy grant funding for an Oak Park Wildland-Urban Interface Target Grazing and Fuel Reduction Project to reduce fuels across roughly 37.3 acres upslope of Churchwood Drive. Council members and residents discussed implementation timing, ongoing maintenance after initial clearance, and confidentiality of complaint filings. The council thanked Captain Sharp for practical guidance on defensible-space obligations and next steps for reporting hazards.
