Don't let this happen to you. 

Here are a few precautions you can take to protect your home.

Fire Safe Landscaping
Homes in the San Luis Obispo Fire Hazard Severity Zones are required to maintain irrigated landscaping a minimum of 30 ft around the house and any important structures.  At the top of a heavily vegetated hill, a 100 ' defensible space is recommended.  Certain plants and trees are also discouraged as they contribute to fire fighting or fire spread problems.  Until the 30 ft (defensible space) irrigated landscaping is installed, keep weeds mowed to less than 6" from April through November. 

Defensible Space
A defensible space is the base around your home that will give firefighters a fighting chance against fire. It means clearing all dry grass, brush and dead leaves at least 30 feet from your home, and more if on the crest of a hill. The key here is "at least”.  Call the Fire Prevention Bureau to determine what would be appropriate in your area. Defensible space and a fire safe landscape don't mean a ring of bare dirt around your home. When establishing your landscape, keep trees furthest from your house, shrubs can be closer, and bedding plants and lawns are nearest the house. 

Spacing
Eliminate the "fire ladder." Fire needs fuel to burn. You can sap its strength by robbing it of the continuous sequence of vegetation that can carry flames from your landscape to your house.

Group plants of similar height and water requirements to create a "landscape mosaic" that can slow the spread of fire and use water most efficiently.

Space trees at least 10 feet apart, and keep branches trimmed at least 10 feet from your roof. Remove lower branches within six feet of the ground.

Managing Natural Vegetation
For areas where there is not irrigated landscaping keep weeds mowed to less than 6"  from April – November.  Mow along any roads and driveways.  Keep at least a 100' mowed around any structure (including a neighbor's home or buildings).      

Discouraged Plants:         Do not use the following plants in the Fire severity Zones: 

Maintenance
Keep your landscape healthy and clean. Prune and thin shrubs, trees and other plants to minimize the fuel load. Please keep in mind that open spaces outside of the City limits are not managed. It is your responsibility to make your own property fire safe.  Do weed mowing before 10:00 am.  Once temperatures are hot and humidity low, any spark in the dry grass can start a fire.

Dear Residents and Visitors,

Thank you for visiting the website of the San Luis Obispo Fire Department. The men and women of this department recognize our responsibility to help ensure the safety of all the people in our city.  We look at public service as a privilege and value the trust we are given by the people we serve. 

For more than 130 years, our Department has worked hard to adapt and change as the challenges to the fire service have changed. We have now moved into the 21st century and provide a full-service fire department to a very special community.  I believe our greatest asset is our team of employees who consistently go above and beyond in delivering vital services.

As your Fire Chief, I take it as my personal responsibility to make this city as safe as possible through Suppression, Emergency Medical Service, Prevention and Public Education.  I encourage you to browse through our web pages, especially the “Disaster Prep” pages, to see the work of this highly respected department. Through a partnership with the people of the City of San Luis Obispo, we intend to make this unique city an even more attractive place to live, work, and visit.

John Callahan
Fire Chief

Mission Statement

We shall protect the lives and property of the citizens and visitors of our City from the adverse effects of fires, medical emergencies and other dangers caused by man or nature. We shall fulfill our mission with Courtesy & Service by motivated, productive individuals who value their profession, co-workers and the community they proudly serve.

We value:

• Our People
• Straightforward Communication
• Teamwork
• Getting Results
• Creativity, Risk Taking, Initiative
• Tough Decisions
• Our Traditions

Respectful Behavior

We commit to treat co-workers in a manner that most people would desire and consider acceptable. Respect, dignity, honesty, compassion, understanding, and trust are fundamental to the health of the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department.

“Courtesy & Service”