UC expert comments on Santa Cruz fire

UC Cooperative Extension natural resources advisor for Sutter and Yuba counties Glenn Nader provided expert commentary to San Francisco TV station KRON Channel 4 yesterday, providing a wealth of fire safety information to the Bay Area community during a teachable moment.

The story was prompted by the Santa Cruz summit fire. Nader noted on the air that he conducts field research for UC and works with homeowners and communities to reduce the risk of structure damage when a fire occurs.

"You will never be able to get rid of all the risk," Nader told the reporters during the live phone interview. "You're just reducing the risk to your house by doing the right things."

Nader specifically mentioned using bird stops on roof openings to prevent birds from building nests, which can be ignited by a flying ember. He suggested homeowners pay particular attention to the 10 feet area immediately surrounding the house.

"Embers go off the roof and accumulate there," he said. "Flammable material around that house - that’s probably the worst thing."

Nader admonished listeners to "look at the house intently and continuously throughout the year."

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