To help local residents prepare for the upcoming wildfire season, the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council’s (SBCFSC) will start its Neighborhood Chipping Program on Monday, April 7.

The initiative supports local residents in creating defensible space around their homes and neighborhoods to help protect them from fires.

The curbside chipping program assists homeowners in reducing vegetation within a 100-foot perimeter around their properties, creating safer zones for both evacuation and firefighting efforts, SBCFSC said.

Participants are encouraged to stack cut vegetation at the curb, where it will be chipped and hauled away by SBCFSC’s designated contractors. SBCFSC staff will be available to offer guidance on trimming vegetation along driveways and roadways to improve access for emergency responders and to create safer evacuation routes for residents.

The chipping service is available to residents in Santa Barbara County’s Very High Fire Severity Zone.
“By reducing flammable vegetation, the program helps create more defensible space, bolstering the community’s resilience to wildfires,” SBCFSC said.

In advance of the program, residents will receive a postcard outlining the specific dates when chipping will take place in their neighborhood.

The postcard will include detailed instructions on how to prepare vegetation for chipping, as well as a list of materials that cannot be chipped (such as vines, grass, palms, succulents, firewood, avocado branches, and other small trimmings). These materials can be disposed of in roll-off containers that will be stationed in each community. (Note: some communities may not have a roll-off container due to safety concerns regarding placement and access).

For more, local residents can visit the SBCFSC’s interactive neighborhood chipping map, and enter their address to learn when chipping will occur in their area.

As part of the Neighborhood Chipping Program, SBCFSC staff will work with chipping vendors to facilitate the “Tag & Trim” portion of the program. Low-hanging branches that may obstruct fire engine access or evacuation routes will be tagged for trimming, ensuring safer and more efficient access for both emergency responders and residents during an evacuation.

Residents can also schedule a home evaluation with an SBCFSC expert to assess their property’s wildfire preparedness. To request an evaluation, visit sbfiresafecouncil.org/evaluation.

Funding for the Community Chipping Program is provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Wildfire Prevention Grants Program as part of the California Climate Investments Program.