Plan makes homes safer from fire

Carson City is extending its vegetation debris cleanup program by three weeks to compensate for the unexpectedly massive amounts of brush produced by residents creating fire-safe areas around their homes.

City work crews were supposed to have finished removing the brush from areas damaged by the Waterfall fire last week as part of the city's push to create fire-safe defensible space - but most of the brush still sits untouched.

Deputy City Engineer John Flansberg said residents have been calling his office, asking why the brush they cleaned from around their property is still piled in front of their homes.

"We're overwhelmed by the sheer volume of brush people have produced," Flansberg said. "We want people to know we're still clearing the brush. It's just taking longer than we thought."

The original debris cleanup program was scheduled for two weeks - Aug. 13-27 - in areas west of the city damaged by the fire, including Kings Canyon, Ash Canyon, Timberline and Lakewood Estates, the base of C Hill and along South Curry Street.

Now the removal program will extend through Sept. 10. Crews are still working in the Kings Canyon Lakewood Estates area, and will move on to C Hill from there, Flansberg said.

The city is providing this service through a contract with Estabrook Tree Services of Gardnerville. A second contractor will join the program this week to meet the new Sept. 10 deadline.

Only plant materials will be accepted as part of the debris cleanup. No synthetics, metal building materials or other trash will be accepted.

Residents are expected to place the vegetation adjacent to their street but not in areas that would hinder traffic or drainage.

The program also provides for the chipping and hauling of other vegetation being cleared to provide a fire-safe zone.

Flansberg said residents will have another opportunity to get rid of brush with the city's annual limb and leaf pick-up program, beginning Nov. 15.

For more information, call Carson City Development Services at 887-2345.

Contact Robyn Moormeister at rmoormeister@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.