Cactus Village Community

City, firefighters aim to weed out risky vegetation

Jul 07, 2003

Yvonne Wingert The AZ Republic

Trim the bushes and prune the palm fronds. Firefighters are coming to a neighborhood near you, looking for overgrown vegetation that could lead to fires.

Property owners with grass taller than 6 inches or bunches of brush could be cited by neighborhood services inspectors.

And take heed because the campaign which began April 1st and will continue through at least the end of the month, helped net about 500 of the 10,174 violations issued last year, fire and neighborhood officials said.

?“Unfortunately, we see homes burn down every year because people don?’t understand they?’re responsible?” for reducing overgrowth on their properties, said Assistant Fire Chief Bob Kahn. ?“The heavy rains were very nice and needed for the Valley, but part of the price is overgrowth for it?”

Inspectors will examine private properties and alleys to enforce the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance, which requires properties to be free from visual blight; potential fire hazards; dead trees and branches; palm fronds from within 10 feet of the ground or a structure, fence or wall; and lawn grass or weeds higher than 6 inches.

?“Our biggest concern?…is that brush fires are going to lead to structure fires and the large scale brush fires that start small will get bigger with that brush,?” Kahn said. Details 602-262-7844...☺