Item 19 - Attachment A - Exhibit A - Appendix L - Fuel Management Plan
Appendix L
Fuel Management Plan
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THE FARM
FUELS MANAGEMENT PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary 2
1.0 Introduction 3
2.0 Project Location, Description and Environmental Setting 4
2.1 Project Location 4
2.2 Project Environmental Setting 4
2.2.1 Vicinity Map (Exhibit1) 5
2.2.2 High Fire Hazard Open Space Map (Exhibit 2) 7
2.2.3 Project Site (Exhibit 3) 8
2.3 Project Description 9
3.0 Fire Fuel Assessment Summary 16
3.1 Fuel Management Zones (FMZ’s) 16
3.1.1 High Hazard Open Space (Exhibit 4) 18
3.1.2 Destructive Winds (Exhibit 5) 19
3.1.3a Fire Ignition Resistant Zone (Graphic 1) 20
3.1.3b Canopy Free Zone Graphic (Graphic 2) 21
3.2 Privacy Fencing 22
3.3 Roads/Streets 23
3.4 Water Supply 23
3.5 Fire Station Location 23
3.5.1 Emergency Response Times (Exhibit 6) 24
4.0 Table of Required Actions 25
5.0 Conclusion 27
APPENDICES
Appendix A Permissible Plant List 9 pages
Appendix B Prohibited Plant List 3 pages
Appendix C Invasive Plant List 3 pages
Appendix D BrandGuard Vents 3 pages
Appendix E BEHAVE PLUS Runs 13 pages
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THE FARM
FUELS MANAGEMENT PLAN
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SMA VENTURES, LLC, proposes to build 160 Single Family One and Two Story Homes in three
types of groupings interspersed with agricultural lands, parks and Community Areas on the 117.2
acre site of the former Stoneridge Country Club, which is entirely surrounded by existing homes. This
is an infill project surrounded by older single family homes built in the 1970’s and 1980’s prior to the
revision of the Fire Codes following the devastating wildfires experienced by San Diego County in
2003 and 2007. There is one location adjacent to Indian Canyon Lane on the Northeast end of this
project where wildland fuels intersect existing homes that surround The Farm Development.
Undeveloped Open Space Wildlands lie to the immediate North and East of these existing homes.
The biggest threat to this project are the older homes (and the inappropriate landscaping in the yards
of these homes; juniper and other highly flammable species) that were built prior to the Fire Code
Revisions generated by the devastating 2003 Cedar and Paradise Fires and the 2007 Witch Creek
Fires that burned through San Diego County destroying thousands of homes and resulted in a
significant number of civilian deaths. These existing homes and the inappropriate highly flammable
landscaping in the yards of these older homes surrounding this proposed project are highly
vulnerable to windblown ember storms generated by wildfires burning to the east of this planned
development under Northeast Santa Ana wind conditions.
The 160 proposed homes and the surrounding existing single family homes will continually be
subjected to both Northeast Santa Ana winds and prevailing afternoon winds out of the Southwest.
This threat can be mitigated by building fire resistant structures, equipped with ember trapping roof,
gable end and under eave vents and firewise landscaping that is continually maintained by individual
homeowners and maintenance of the planned open space areas by the required THE FARM
Community Association (TFCA).
This Fuel Management Plan will significantly reduce the probability of flame impingement from
wildfires burning on the adjacent developed and undeveloped properties via required Fuel
Management Zones (FMZ’s) within the Project. Proper venting and construction utilizing fire resistant
materials will significantly reduce the probability of structure loss due to the onslaught of airborne
embers from both wildland and ornamental fuels and adjacent existing homes when they are ignited.
This Fuels Management Plan (FMP) has been prepared in full conformance with Chapter 7A of the
California Building Code for California’s Wildland-Urban Interface, Chapter 49 of California’s Fire
Code and The City of Poway requirements.
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1.0-INTRODUCTION
This project incorporates the following Assessor Parcel Numbers: APN’s 273-110-07-00, 08-00 and
18-00. THE FARM Project, a planned community with two ways out, will be built within a Very High
Fire Hazard Severity Zone and, therefore requires a Fuel Management Plan (FMP) that will prescribe
conditions that must be implemented and maintained in perpetuity between the 160 homes and the
existing immediately adjacent perimeter homes. Although most of the ornamental and wildland fuels
present on the site will be eliminated by THE FARM development footprint, there will still be significant
exposure because of the large amount of wildland native vegetation growing in the large expanse of
open space that lies to the immediate North and East of THE FARM Project (note that not all of the
existing golf course trees and shrubs will be eliminated by the development footprint and required Fuel
Management Zones; much of this remaining vegetation is seriously stressed and it will be the
Developers call as to whether this remaining vegetation will be retained or eliminated).
Because this is an infill project, the most immediate threat to the proposed FARM Project will be from
the older homes built in the 1970’s and 80’s prior to major revisions in the Fire Code that surround and
border THE FARM Project. The current non compliance of existing homes with current Fire Codes will
be the responsibility of the home owners. The enforcement of required Fuel Management Zones will
be the responsibility of the City of Poway Director of Development Services. In the event of a wildfire
in the open space to the east of THE FARM Project the owners of these older homes have
compromised their homes survivability due to the planting over time of highly flammable vegetation
around and next to their homes, which will be receptive hosts for Santa Ana windblown embers and a
threat to new homes to be built in the Farm Project when these older homes burn under extreme wind
driven fire conditions.
There are two wind patterns that are responsible for loss of life and for large numbers of homes being
significantly damaged or completely destroyed during wind driven wildfires (see Exhibit No. 5 on page
19). These are 1.) the very dry northeast/east Santa Ana winds that frequently impact San Diego
County in the fall of each year prior to the winter rainy season when fuels are dormant and dried out
after the long, hot, drought prone summers [although these winds can occur during any month of the
year resulting in the loss of lives and homes] and 2.) The above average southwest winds that
frequently occur with the breakdown of a significant Santa Ana Wind event. When the northeast Santa
Ana winds subside this event is quickly followed by an onshore rush of hot, dry air that has been piling
up over the ocean and will rush back in to fill the vacuum left by the deteriorating Santa Ana Winds
(Cedar Fire, 2003). Lives and homes are lost under both scenarios. Experience and Research has
repeatedly shown that this tragedy can be significantly reduced by maintaining 100’ FMZ’s, as
measured horizontally from each structure and by the construction of homes using fire resistant
building materials, tempered glass dual pane windows and ember trapping roof, eave and gable end
vents (Chapter 7A of the State Building Code).
The City of Poway Fire Marshal has requested a Fire Behavior Assessment and the submission of a
Fuel Management Plan (FMP) based on that assessment to address the potential threat to the older
surrounding homes and the 160 homes that will be built as part of this proposed project.
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2.0 PROJECT LOCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND DESCRIPTION
2.1 Project Location
THE FARM Project is located in an area of gently rolling hills on a south facing slope within the
jurisdiction of the City of Poway, CA (see Vicinity Map). With the exception of the Stoneridge Country
Club footprint this area is mostly built out, however, there is an abundance of immediately adjacent
very high fire hazard wildland open space area to the north and east of this Project Site and the older
existing homes that surround the Project Site. The Project Area covered by this Plan is bounded by
Val Verde Road on the west, Saint Andrews Drive on the west and north, Boca Raton Lane, Tam O’
Shanter Drive and Cloudcroft Drive on the east and Espola Road on the south. For a visual depiction
of this Project Area please refer to Exhibits 1, 2 and 3 on pages 5, 7 and 8.
2.2 Project Environmental Setting
THE FARM Project is located in a moderately hilly coastal zone approximately thirteen and a half
(13.6) miles inland from the ocean and approximately 550 feet above sea level at the highest point.
Specifically the property is located south of Highland Valley Road, west of Old Coach Road, north of
Espola Road and east of Pomerado Road, which is just east of Interstate 15 and which runs parallel
to I-15. Primary access from the west is off the I-15 Interstate and east on Rancho Bernardo Road,
which becomes Espola Road to Val Verde Road, north on Val Verde to Saint Andrews Drive. Primary
access from the southeast is from the City of Poway heading east and north on Poway Road to
Espola Road, north and west on Espola Road to Cloudcroft Drive and north on Cloudcroft Drive.
THE FARM Vicinity Map Exhibit is on the following page.
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2.2.1 Vicinity Map Exhibit 1
Exhibit 1: THE FARM Vicinity Map
THE FARM
Vicinity Map
Poway Fire Station 2
Espola Road
THE FARM Project Area
To I-15
To Ramona
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During a site visit on December 03, 2018 an inventory was made of the existing vegetation. No
endangered plants, nesting birds or endangered animals were observed.
The current condition of the property can best be described as an unmaintained former golf course
consisting of highly stressed scattered pines (Pinus halipensis) and eucalyptus sps. intermingled with
a remnant population of a coastal sage scrub plant community that has invaded the former Golf
Course dominated by the presence of pockets of highly flammable, highly invasive stands of black
mustard (Brassica nigra) interspersed with non-continuous random clumps of Laurel Sumac
(Malosma laurina), California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), Black Sage (Salvia mellifera),
Coastal Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Broom Baccharis (Baccharis sarothroides), highly invasive
pepper trees (Schinus molle), and some Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum).
Ironically the Buckwheat, Black Sage, Coastal Sagebrush and Chamise are all desirable California
Gnat Catcher habitat species, but are also the most flammable species of all of the species that make
up the native coastal sage scrub plant community; they burn explosively and pose the greatest
danger to adjacent homes. These four plant species must not be permitted within 100 feet of homes
(see list of prohibited plants within 100 feet of homes in Appendix B).
2.2.2 High Fire Hazard Open Space Map; Exhibit 2
The High Fire Hazard Open Space Map (Courtesy of Goggle Earth) is on the following page. This
Wildland/Urban Interface directly abuts the older homes that surround and border THE FARM Project.
Past and current homeowners have compromised their safety by landscaping their properties with
inappropriate highly flammable planting choices.
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Exhibit 2: Note the large expanse of wildland open space to the immediate North and East of THE FARM Project.
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2.2.3 Project Site
Exhibit 3: THE FARM Projects relationship to the existing built out residential community and the Wildland/Urban
Interface.
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2.3 Project Description
For the most part the required FMZ’s are currently vegetated with a very fragmented cover of coastal
sage scrub species, all of which are prohibited within 100’ of structures (see the Prohibited Plant List
in Appendix B) and non –native grasses and several highly invasive and highly flammable non-native
ornamental shrubs and trees. The following highly invasive, non-native species were observed at
various locations within the required FMZ including non-native, highly flammable intrusions of pepper
trees (Schinus molle), Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) palms
(Washingtonia robusta) and large areas occupied by highly flammable mustard (Brassica nigra). The
following less flammable native species were also observed and can be retained in clumps if topped
and shaped and properly spaced (20’ between shrubs); San Diego sunflower (Viguiera laciniata),
Broom Baccharis (Baccharis sarothroides), bush sunflower (Encelia californica) and laurel sumac
(Malosma laurina). Several species of cactus were also observed within the project site including
prickly pear (Opuntia littoralis). All of the above low flammability native plant species are permissible
within the FMZ, provided they are well spaced, and with the exception of the cactus and laurel sumac,
weed whipped down to a 4 inch stubble height by June 1 of each year. The laurel sumac can be
shaped into a tree form or retained as a pruned shrub.
Photo 1: From the present end of Cloudcroft Court looking east across the project site. THE FARM Project site is
currently vegetated with a highly flammable cover of black mustard (Brassica nigra), non-native grasses,
ornamentals and California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), a preferred species from a wildlife standpoint,
but prohibited within 100’ of structures due to its explosive flammability. Some of the existing perimeter homes
along the north and east of THE FARM Project Boundaries can be seen in the background (Photo by Mike
Rogers).
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Photo 2: This photo is also taken from the end of Cloudcroft Court looking east, across the lower half of THE
FARM Project at several of the older existing homes that border THE FARM Project and the existing inappropriate
vegetation that will be removed. The vegetation seen in this photo is typical of most of the site. This vegetation
will be eliminated by the construction footprint. If any of the highly flammable native plants end up outside of the
building footprint and in a FMZ they will need to be weed whacked down to a 4“ stubble height and the roots
retained to hold the soil in place. The non-native highly invasive mustard must be eliminated from the FMZ’s
(Photo by Mike Rogers).
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Photo 3: A view looking east from Tam O Shanter Drive heading towards Boca Raton Lane. At this photo point
location Tam O Shanter Drive is south of the actual Project Footprint. This photo point provides an excellent
view of the wildland vegetation that borders the eastern and northern perimeters of the older homes immediately
adjacent to and that surround THE FARM Project. THE FARM footprint can be seen behind the homes that
border the north side of Tam O Shanter Drive. Note the inappropriate vegetation in the yards of the existing older
homes that border THE FARM Project consisting of palm trees, pines, Arizona cypress, etc. within 100 feet of the
existing homes. When the wildland expanse to the east burns under a Santa Ana wind this wildland area will be a
source of ground hugging smoke and windblown embers that will ignite some of the existing vegetation in the
yards of the existing homes, which will lead to the loss of the homes and will be a viable threat to the homes built
in THE FARM (Photo by Mike Rogers).
THE FARM
footprint
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Photo 5: This photo was taken on the east end of THE FARM Project, heading north on Boca Raton Lane towards
the intersection with Del Paso Drive and Saint Andrews Drive. The one deep line of existing homes along the
east side of Boca Raton Lane have been seriously compromised by the resident homeowners making the
survival of their homes very doubtful in a wildfire with yards full of inappropriate vegetation; pines, Arizona
cypress next to their homes and eucalyptus for starters. This east end of THE FARM Project is the most
vulnerable portion of THE FARM Project. The homes planned along the west side of Boca Raton Lane will face
the greatest vulnerability from burning landscape and structures on the east side of Boca Raton Lane. Indian
Canyon Lane was constructed in a drainage depression and will serve as a funnel for ground hugging winds with
accelerated wind speeds due to the Venturi Effect (winds forced through a restriction accelerate). A fire
occurring during a ground hugging wind event will blow radiant heat and embers into the yards of the homes
along the east side of Boca Raton Lane resulting in the loss of existing structures. The ignition of the vegetation
and structures on the east side of Boca Raton Lane will pose a huge threat to all older and new homes to be built
west of Boca Raton Lane. Correction of this situation is outside the scope of THE FARM Project. However, it is
strongly recommended that this become a priority for the City of Poway to bring these homes and landscaping
into compliance (Photo by Mike Rogers).
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Photo 6: Note the recently planted, highly flammable Arizona cypress right
next to the older existing structure (Photo by Mike Rogers).
Photo 7: Another view of a home on the east side of Saint Andrews Drive
with a highly flammable juniper hedge. This juniper, when it burns will
produce enough prolonged radiant heat to ignite the structure and
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compromises the safety of escaping evacuees and arriving first responders
using Saint Andrews Drive (Photo by Mike Rogers).
One of the problems of removing the existing inappropriate fuels from within the designated FMZ is
the opening of the site through the disturbance that occurs, which provides an opportunity for highly
invasive species such as tumbleweed, also called Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), artichoke thistle
(Cynara cardunculus) pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) and black mustard (Brassica nigra) and
many weedy grasses with little to no wildlife value to take over the site. Unfortunately, Mother Nature
abhors a vacuum and will readily fill it with whatever airborne seeds and seeds capsulated within bird
droppings are available. Highly invasive and highly flammable black mustard and various varieties of
thistles are already present on site or nearby. Mustard, in particular, is very aggressive, an extreme
fire hazard after curing, and is stubbornly difficult to eradicate. It is a prolific seed disperser with lots
of the current year’s seed already in the ground, where it is established, for germination the next
growing season following winter rains. The most effective way to eliminate this plant is to cut the
flowers when they start appearing, bag them and remove the flowers and cuttings off site for proper
disposal. As new plants begin growing, spot spray the green leafy portion of the plants with round up.
The goal of this FMP is to establish low maintenance FMZ’s within 100 feet, and in several cases less
than 100 feet, of planned homes with low flammability, low maintenance native shrubs and grasses,
with high values for wildlife, for the protection of life and property under the worst case wildland fire
conditions. In most cases the new homes in THE FARM Project will not have enough room to achieve
100’ of Zone A and Zone B Fuel Management Zones as the back yards of THE FARM Project will abut
the backyards of the existing homes around the perimeter of THE FARM Project, which is an infill.
Generally there will be 30’ of distance from the back of the planned homes and the Lot line. This is
also the case with the existing homes, which initially adjoined the Stoneridge Golf Course property.
The good news is that there will be at least 60’ of irrigated Zone A landscaping between the new and
older homes. Because Chapter 7A of the State Building Code requires dual pane, tempered glass
windows, ember trapping State Fire Marshal Approved vent systems manufactured by O Hagan,
Brandguard or Vulcan and Class A roof assemblies that are mandated for all structures built in
Wildland-Urban Interface Areas there will be no additional requirements in addition to the continuous
60’ or more of irrigated and continuously maintained Zone A landscaping. These Chapter 7A
Standards apply to all homes within THE FARM Project. In addition, Chapter 49 of the California Fire
Code applies to all vegetated areas, including front, side and back yards within THE FARM Project,
including common areas that will be maintained by the required Community Association (CA).
There are a number of planned storm water retention basins located throughout the Project. Each
retention basin will be equipped with an underground drainage outlet. Plans call for the sloped
embankments to be vegetated with shrubs (willow or other fire resistant riparian species) and the
bottoms seeded with annual and perennial grasses to filter the storm water flows and control erosion.
As vegetation becomes established, all invasive plants must be eradicated and the annual and
perennial grasses on the basin floor weed whipped down to a 4 inch stubble height by June 1 of each
year and as needed to fully comply with Zone B standards.
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All yards of every one of the 160 homes planned in this project fall into Zone A and shall meet Zone A
standards. Zone A extends out 30 feet from each side of each of the 160 planned homes. Portions of
some back yards will comprise Zone B from 30 feet out to 100 feet or to the property line. Zone A will
consist of irrigated, low growing well maintained fire resistant vegetation and well spaced shrubs (see
Acceptable Plant List in Appendix A). Zone B will consist of un-irrigated, well spaced fire resistant
trees and shrubs and low growing ground covers that are weed whipped down to a 4 inch stubble
height or mowed by June 1 of each year. Zones A and B will be maintained by each property owner.
All vegetated areas within THE FARM Project that are outside of individual lot lines will be maintained
by the required CA.
The water retention basins will be the responsibility of the developer pending the establishment of a
THE FARM Community Association (TFCA). All Home Owners will be required to financially support
the TFCA who will have the responsibility for maintaining the water retention basins and common
areas beyond lot lines. The requirement for each lot owner to financially support the TFCA shall
convey to all original and subsequent owners in perpetuity. The TFCA is directly accountable to the
City of Poway Director of Development Services. Each future home owner is bound by the
requirements set out in this Fuel Management Plan; no homeowner has the freedom to plant whatever
tree and shrub species they desire as has occurred in the area of older homes that surround and
border THE FARM Project.
3.0 Fire Fuel Assessment Summary
Behave Plus, Version 5.0.2, runs show that a 100 foot wide Fuel Modification Zone (FMZ) between
structures and undisturbed native fuels, under the worst case San Diego County fire weather
conditions will adequately mitigate the impact of flame impingement and radiant heat on planned and
adjacent structures (see Appendix E). Should an ignition occur in the wildland open space under the
most extreme conditions the greatest flame length (53.6 feet) is produced under Northeast Santa Ana
winds. The greatest threat to THE FARM Project will be from airborne embers from wildland fires
northeast and east of this project that travel from 1 to 2 miles and will ignite new spot fires if they find
dry vegetation or other suitable hosts. For the most part a Santa Ana wind will be pushing wildfire
into the planned homes on the east side of this project. One hundred foot wide FMZ’s will prevent
both flame impingement and loss of structures from radiant heat. The ignition of a structure by
radiant heat produced by highly flammable native fuels requires sustained temperatures in excess of
600 degree Fahrenheit for more than 28 minutes. The residence time for a fire in the fuels in the
immediate vicinity of the planned homes will be less than 15 minutes. However, airborne embers
pose a threat to all homes, both the existing homes and planned homes.
3.1 Fuel Management Zones (FMZ’s)
The FMZ starts at the exterior wall of each structure and is measured out horizontally to the lot
boundary. The FMZ is divided into two Zones; Zone A runs from each edge of the structure out to a
minimum of 30’ and is best modeled as a gr1 (short grass) or a gs1 (grass and well spaced shrubs,
the 9.8’ flame length can be reduced by cutting the grass in this model to a 4” stubble height); Zone B
runs the additional 70’ for a total of 100’, or to the property line. Zone B can best be modeled by a
sh1 (a low load well spaced dry climate shrub over ground fuels that are weed whipped down to a 4”
stubble height by June 1 of each year [See Appendix E for the BEHAVE runs]). Where the required
FMZ cannot be accommodated within the project boundaries mitigation measures must be employed;
however, in the case of THE FARM, this is an infill project and there is no point on the perimeter of
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THE FARM Project where the Project boundary directly intersects with native, highly flammable
wildland fuels. Because of this situation there is no point where any of THE FARM single-family
homes will be subjected to the 53.6’foot flame lengths from a wildfire burning in the surrounding Open
Space native coastal sage and chaparral shrubs on the North, Northeast and East sides of this
Project. However, there are two additional scenarios to defend against; first, the wind driven ember
storms that will extend a mile or more from the active fire front, and second, the radiant heat given off
when one of the older surrounding structures catches fire. In the first scenario, the 60‘ of irrigated
Zone A Fuel Management will provide the necessary fuel treatments to keep any ember ignited spot
fires from becoming high intensity wildfires with flame lengths greater than 2 to 6 feet in length (see
page 3 of the Santa Ana wind BehavePlus run in Appendix E that shows flame lengths). In addition
the newly constructed homes must be fitted with ember trapping roof, gable end and under eave
vents (see Appendix F) and dual pane tempered glass windows.
In the second scenario, should one of the older, immediately adjacent structures ignite this will
provide a new source of large embers and radiant heat over an extended period of time (longer than
28 minutes). It has been found when examining homes that survived house to house ignitions that
once a structure ignites, where there is 16’ or more of separation between structures the likelihood of
additional ignitions of adjacent homes drops significantly. In the case of THE FARM there will be at
least 60’feet of separation between the surrounding older homes and the new homes and at least 16’
between the planned homes that will be built as part of THE FARM project. Zone A is usually planted
with irrigated ornamental landscaping consisting of irrigated lawn and well maintained low growing,
fire resistant, flowering plants and shrubs (gr1 and gs1). An alternative landscaping (also identified
as hardscape) can also be implemented consisting of low water requirement xerophic plants and
shrubs, interspersed with large rocks, sand and gravel.
Zone B is usually non-irrigated and consists of fire resistant, low growing native and non-native
plants. With a cover of native grasses interspersed with shrubs spaced 20’ apart (an sh1 shrub fuel
model), such as Broom Baccharis, San Diego Sunflower, bush sunflower, brittlebush, white sage,
lemonade berry, laurel sumac, etc. that are shaped and topped each spring and the grasses and
other less desirable shrubs reduced to a 4” stubble height, it is possible to reduce 53.6’ flame lengths
down to 6.2’ flame lengths. The managed FMZ’s will burn but when they do, the managed fuels in
Zones A and B will not produce the large flame lengths that unmanaged wildland areas will.
The plants listed as undesirable (prohibited) in Appendix B should never be permitted within the 100
foot FMZ. Many of the native coastal sage shrubs are prolific seeders and will attempt to reestablish
themselves within the FMZ. This can be a real problem if this occurs as these newly established
native plants grow rapidly and burn explosively and will readily transmit fire to adjacent structures.
Invasive plants must be continually eliminated from throughout the interior of the FMZ’s (please refer
to the list of invasive plants shown in Appendix C).
Trees can be planted within Zones A and B provided they are not on the prohibited plant list and the
tree locations correspond to the graphic illustrations on pages 20 and 21.
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Exhibit 4: This Goggle Earth View shows the large expanse of wildland open space to the immediate North,
Northeast and East of the FARM Project. Riparian areas played a significant role in the spread of the 2003 and
2007 San Diego County wildfires. The wind dried vegetation growing in these riparian corridors acted like wicks
which aided the rapid spread of these Santa Ana wind driven wildfires into populated areas.
LEGEND
THE FARM
RIPARIAN CORIDORS
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Exhibit 5: Direction of Santa Ana winds. Because of the built community to the west the prevailing Southwest
wind pattern will not pose a significant threat to THE FARM Project.
Santa Ana winds can occur in each month of the Calendar Year, however, they typically occur in late
September through December and are responsible for spreading multiple fires, which severely taxes
fire fighting resources resulting in many lives lost and thousands of homes destroyed. Because all
firefighting resources could be committed to other wildfires, the homeowner is the key to his or her
homes survival by always being prepared. The following graphics show what is needed for survival.
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FIRE IGNITION RESISTANT ZONE GRAPHIC
Graphics No 1 and 2: The tree depictions in these two CAL FIRE graphics give the false impression that the trees
shown could be pines, firs, cedars, junipers, etc. within Zone A and B, which is definitely not the case (see 100’
zone prohibited plant list).
B
A
Zone A
Zone B
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CANOPY FREE ZONE GRAPHIC
ZONE A ZONE B
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California sagebrush, black sage and buckwheat, all highly desirable species from a gnatcatcher
habitat perspective, must be prohibited within the 100’ FMZ. These plants within the FMZ must be
weed whipped down to a 4” stubble height each spring. Other native plants, such as bush sunflower
(Encelia californica) are permitted in clumps within the FMZ because as spring ends and the long hot
summer begins these fragile plants become dormant and as they dry up and are broken off by
seasonal winds they are blown away. If not weed whipped to a 4 inch stubble height, native plants
such as buckwheat, California sage brush and black sage harden off during the drought phase of the
summer season and even though still alive these plants now behave like aerially arranged highly
flammable dead fuels that burn very intensely and, therefore, must be removed from the FMZ while
leaving their root systems intact to prevent soil erosion (see Appendix A for a list of acceptable plants,
Appendix B for a list of prohibited high fire hazard plants and Appendix C for a list of prohibited highly
invasive plants).
3.2 Privacy Fencing
A variety of fencing materials are permitted by the City of Poway, however, wooden privacy fencing
may not attach directly to the home, garage, etc. and can be no closer than five feet to a structure.
Attached wooden privacy fencing was solely responsible for the loss of many homes in the City of
San Diego Communities of Scripps Ranch and Tierrasanta during the 2003 Cedar Fire. A non-
combustible material, such as masonry or see through steel bar fencing can be used between the
wooden privacy fencing and the structure (see following example)
Photo 8: An example of a non-combustible transition between wooden fencing and the structure.
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“THE FARM” Fuel Management Plan Page 23
3.3 Roads/Streets
There are five planned private streets within THE FARM footprint and are shown on the Site Plan as
well as described in the Specific Plan. Prior to delivery of combustible building materials on site, all
planned vehicle access, including driveways and fire hydrants shall be in place and approved by the
City of Poway. All dead-end access roads in excess of 150 feet in length shall have an unobstructed
turn around cul-de-sac installed that will accommodate emergency apparatus. The minimum,
unobstructed all weather paved radius width for each cul-de-sac shall be 38 feet in all residential
areas. The planned streets are temporarily known as Private Drives A, B, C, D and E. Street parking
will be provided on Private Drives A, B and C on one side of the street and on portions of D and E
only where fronting residential lots. Those portions of each Private Drive where there is No Parking
must be inter-visibly posted “No Parking At Any Time”. Each sign must be inter-visible from each
location. All streets and private drives shall be designed and maintained with an all weather surface
of asphalt or concrete to support a minimum load bearing weight of 75,000 pounds to safely support
Emergency Fire Apparatus. There must be a continuously unobstructed 20’ wide travel lane for
Emergency Vehicle Access in each direction of travel on each street at all times. All streets and
access roads shall have a vertical clearance of 13.6’ above the road surface and shrubbery and trees
must be cleared back a minimum of 15’ from the edge of each street or access road for
unencumbered access and to maintain line of sight. All driveways serving no more than two
improved parcels shall have a minimum 16 feet of unobstructed width. The addresses for all
structures within the Farm Project must be visible from the street.
Fire hydrant locations must be marked in the centerline of each street with “Blue Dot” permanent
markers. Hydrant spacing shall not exceed 600 feet between hydrants in residential areas and 400
feet in all non residential areas with structures. If any of these streets are gated, the gates will be
equipped with Knox Boxes or other City of Poway Fire Department approved system for Emergency
access.
3.4 Water Supply
The City of Poway provides potable water and sewer services. The water supply is metered via City
owned and supplied water meters.
3.5 Fire Station Location
The closest Fire Station to THE FARM Project is City of Poway Fire Station 2 located at 16912
Westling Court, which is to the immediate east of THE FARM project and just off of Espola Road.
3.5.1 Response Times
Emergency Response Travel Times are set forth in the San Diego County General Plan and apply to
all City Fire Departments and Fire Protection Districts as follows: (see next page).
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“THE FARM” Fuel Management Plan Page 24
Table 1.
Emergency Response Times
LAND USE
CATEGORY
MAXIUM
TRAVEL
TIME
LAND USE CATEGORY DEFINED
Town 5 minutes Single-family residential lots of less than
two acres (lot size is determined by the
smallest lot size within the project), or
more intensive uses such as multi-family
residential. Includes all industrial
development and all commercial
development except neighborhood
commercial.
Estate 10 minutes Single-family residential lots from two to
four acres in size. Includes neighborhood
commercial development.
Rural 20 minutes Large lot single-family residential and
agricultural development. Lot sizes of
greater than four acres.
Response times are calculated using the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) National
Standard Emergency Travel Time of 35 mph. The longest distance from Station 2 to the most distant
single-family home in THE FARM project was determined by map measurement and checked by
Google Maps. The greatest distance from Station 2 is 2.5 miles. Using the formula distance d = rate
r X time t (d=rXt) where d is 2.5 miles, r is 35 mph, solving for t we have t = (2.5 miles/35 mph) X (60
minutes/hr) or 4.285714 minutes to the farthest out single-family home, which is within the 5 minute
standard. The Google Map calculation indicates that access to the farthest point in the project using
either Val Verde and Saint Andrews Drive or Cloudcroft to Tam O Shanter Drive can be reached
within 5 minutes.
A Goggle Map Travel Analysis is displayed on the following page.
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Exhibit 6: Emergency Response Travel Route and Travel Times to THE FARM’s farthest structure. Any portion of
THE FARM Project can be reached by Emergency Responders within 5 minutes (visual by Goggle Maps).
4.0 Table of Required Actions
The following is a table that summarizes the ongoing required actions within THE FARM Project as
these required actions are scattered through the text and in the photo captions of this Fuel
Management Plan.
NO. REQUIRED ACTION FREQUENCY
1. All structures built within the Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Area of this PROJECT shall fully comply
with the requirements for homes built in
Wildland/Urban Interface Areas as described in
Chapter 7A of the State Building Code.
On going for all
structures.
2. Continually maintain all Zone A landscaping,
keeping lawns mowed and irrigated and all
shrubbery trimmed and well maintained, all leaf litter
removed.
Weekly and as needed.
3. Annually remove all highly flammable non-native
grasses. Seed all barren and/or newly disturbed
areas with a mix of native, drought resistant annual
and perennial grasses: [California brome (Bromus
carinatus var. carinatus), Blue wild rye (Elymus
Fall, winter and as
needed.
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glaucus ssp. glaucus), slender wheatgrass (Elymus
trachycaulis spp. trachycaulis), coast melic/onion
grass (Melica imperfecta), purple needle grass
(Nassella pulchra), small fescue (Vulpia
microstachys var. pauciflora)].
4. Weed whip or mow all highly flammable vegetation
in Zone B of the FMZ (including the above newly
established native grasses in No. 3) down to a 4”
stubble height after grasses have headed out and
cured (annual and perennial grasses, California
sagebrush, black sage and buckwheat).
Each spring or by June
1 of each year.
5. On a 20’ spacing annually cut and shape retained
shrubs down to 12” in height; maintain separated
clumps of white sage, San Diego sunflower and
bush sunflower.
Each spring or by June
1 of each year.
6. Excepting agriculture plant materials eradicate
highly invasive non-native plants with herbicide
treatments (Garlon or Round Up) as these plants
emerge (pepper trees, eucalyptus trees, tamarisk,
mustard, pampas grass, etc. within the FMZ (see
Invasive Plant List in Appendix C).
Spring and as needed.
7. All Home Owners will be required to and shall
financially support the TFCA who has responsibility
for the maintenance of vegetation growing in the
water retention basins and common areas by June
1 and as needed during the year. This requirement
will transfer to all future Home Owners.
Continuously.
8. Adjacent Open Space Areas: Home Owners are
prohibited from disposing of yard clippings and
trimmings in adjacent common areas/open space
areas.
Continuously.
9, Keep the Community garden/farm areas free of
accumulations of drying/dead vegetation.
Continuously
10. THE FARM Project CC&R’s shall include a copy of
the Fuel Management Plan prepared for The FARM
Project by Firewise 2000, LLC...
In perpetuity.
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“THE FARM” Fuel Management Plan Page 27
5.0 Conclusion:
This Fuels Management Plan (FMP) has been prepared in full conformance with State of California,
County of San Diego and the City of Poway Fire Protection Requirements.
It is important to understand that THE FARM Project Developer is required to comply with the
recommendations of this FMP, as directed by the City of Poway Director of Development Services to
the maximum extent practicable. Since the FMP required by the Fire Marshal includes specific native
seed selections and specific vegetative management practices to reduce flammability while providing
for the stability of the existing slopes and the reduction of erosion, THE FARM Project Developer, by
complying with the recommendations in this FMP, is additionally fulfilling the requirements for slope
stability and erosion control as described above. Additionally, each perspective home buyer will be
given a personal copy of this Fuels Management Plan. Once the homes are sold, the new
homeowner is responsible for the maintenance of Fuel Management Zones A and B on their lot.
Additionally all FARM Home Owners will be required to financially support THE FARM Community
Association (TFCA). The TFCA will have direct responsibility for the vegetative management in and
around the water retention basins and common areas. The Chief Officer of the TFCA (elected by
TFCA members) will report directly to the City of Poway Director of Development Services. Further,
the responsibility for maintenance of Fuel Management Zones A and B and the requirement to
financially support the TFCA conveys to successive owners of each lot within THE FARM Project in
perpetuity.
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