POWAY – Within a four-year period, more than half the acreage in Poway and 144 homes and other structures were consumed in two regional firestorms.

The Poway City Council adopted strict regulations designed to help prevent damage from blazes such as the Cedar fire of 2003 and the Witch Creek and Guejito fires of 2007.

The bottom line is that people who live in older homes in parts of the city adjacent to open areas might have to spend thousands of dollars soon to clear 100 feet of space around their homes.

The Wildfire Defensible Space Program is being established citywide, but the primary focus is on areas where houses and highly flammable chaparral vegetation such as sumac, scrub oak, chamise and sage are found.

It goes into effect Sept. 19, though full implementation won't begin until January.

“The creation of defensible space throughout the city is an important part of our overall strategy,” said Poway Fire Department Division Chief/Fire Marshal Kevin Kitch. “We live in a fire ecology that is one of the worst in the world. We think this program is prudent.”

Online: To read more about Poway's new brush-clearance regulations, go to the city's Web site at www.ci.poway.ca.us.

What makes the program unique in the county, and what may be a source of friction, is a provision requiring the owners of vacant land that's adjacent to houses to clear it even though they don't have a house nearby.

The policy statement reads in part: “For example, if 100 feet of defensible space is determined . . . and only 70 feet is located on the property where the structure is located, then the defensible space improvements would be performed by two parties. The owner of the parcel with the structure would be required to thin and reduce highly flammable chaparral fuels 70 feet up to their own property line, and the remainder of the 100-foot defensible space, or 30 feet, would be the responsibility of the adjacent property owner.”

Kitch said the ordinance “is a balancing act between property-owner rights and public safety. . . . Will it cost money for some property owners? No question. Will it improve fire safety? Absolutely.”

Homes in the center of the city that don't abut open areas probably won't be affected, and most new developments already have approved vegetative fuel management plans. Streambeds, the banks of streams and vernal pools are excluded.

The program targets only the reduction of highly flammable chaparral species and annual weeds. It doesn't include ornamental landscaping or common species such as palm or eucalyptus trees. Trees that are dead or dying could be required to be removed if they're determined to create a fire hazard.

The program also applies to 38 city-owned parcels. The cost to the city is expected to be at least $270,000 for fuel reduction, work that has already begun on most of the parcels, Kitch said.

In addition, the city will spend $58,000 to hire two part-time provisional code compliance officers for the initial implementation of the program, and $87,400 for a senior code compliance officer. That position will be funded by the elimination of a position in the Development Services Department.

The program will be implemented as follows:

The city will identify structures that are at risk and don't meet the defensible-space standard. The identified properties will then be prioritized by the fire marshal for notification of inclusion in the program based on current fire risk.

Before any reduction of chaparral fuels begins, an assessment will be conducted by the city, at no cost. The city will contact property owners and make an appointment to conduct the assessment.

A homeowner also can request a home assessment by contacting the city. Scheduling will be prioritized based on fire risk.

After an assessment, a strategy to create the required defensible space will be developed in cooperation with property owners and will include timelines for completion.

Follow-up inspections will ensure completion of the work. Certificates of compliance will be issued to homeowners who create the mandated defensible space.

Annual maintenance of the defensible space will be required.

Property owners can contest a decision by the fire marshal by filing an appeal. At its meeting Tuesday night, the council also reduced the fee to process an appeal from $1,425 to $200.

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J. Harry Jones: (760) 737-7579; jharry.jones@uniontrib.com