August 11, 2021

CONTACT: Pam Kan-Rice, (510) 206-3476, pam.kanrice@ucanr.edu

EDITORS: Images can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/3fVjMKS

Defensible space

Landscaping with wildfire exposure in mind can protect homes

What can Californians do to improve the chances that their homes will survive a wildfire? Simple actions taken around the home can substantially improve the odds that a home will survive wildfire, according to UC Cooperative Extension advisors. 

During wildfire, structures are threatened not only by the flaming front of the fire, but also by flaming embers that are lofted ahead of the fire front and land on fuels such as vegetation or mulch next to the house, igniting new fires. Traditional defensible space tactics are designed to mitigate threats from the flaming front of the fire, but do little to address vulnerabilities to embers on or beside a structure. 

"Without attention to ember-related risks, defensible space efforts only address a portion of the wildfire threat—especially during wind-driven fires in which embers are the primary source of fire spread," said co-author Yana Valachovic, UC Cooperative Extension forest advisor in Humboldt and Del Norte counties.

An updated University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources publication describes how embers, radiant heat, and direct flame contact ignite buildings and shares low-cost actions residents can take to create effective defensible space.

"The new publication is up-to-date with the changes in California's defensible space guidance, and it addresses Zone Zero, or the missing ingredient, in defense space," Valachovic said. "The publication also provides a thoughtful discussion of plant lists and their limitations."

The odds of a home surviving a wildfire can be substantially improved through careful attention to three things: careful design and maintenance of landscaping; awareness and management of combustible materials on the property such as leaf litter, wood piles and lawn furniture; and incorporation of fire- and ember-resistant construction materials with appropriate installation and maintenance.

"You don't have to spend a lot to protect your home from these wildfire threats," said Valachovic.

Zone Zero, the area within five feet of the house, is the most vulnerable area around the home, according to the UC Cooperative Extension researchers. "During wind-driven fires, embers are the primary source of fire spread," Valachovic said.

They recommend removing combustible plants, planter boxes, mulches and wood piles within the five-foot perimeter of the house and beneath attached decks. 

"While it may be a radical change, clearing the area next to the house will reduce the risk of ember-caused direct flame contact and radiant heat exposure, which are responsible for many home losses," she said. "Because embers can accumulate at the base of an exterior wall, it is also important to create a six-inch noncombustible zone between the ground and the start of the building's siding."

Colorful illustrations in the publication depict the three-zone defensible space strategy and show how spacing out trees on a sloped landscape can prevent fire from climbing from tree to tree to reach a house at the top of the slope.

The 12-page "Reducing the Vulnerability of Building to Wildfire: Vegetation and Landscaping Guidance" is available free for download at https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8695.pdf.

"Landscaping for fire is part of an overall strategy aimed at reducing risk to the home," said co-author Steven Swain, UC Cooperative Extension environmental horticulture advisor for Marin and Sonoma counties. "To reduce the risk of home loss, start at the house and work out from there," he recommended. 

Swain, Valachovic and Stephen Quarles, UC Cooperative Extension advisor emeritus, are currently updating a publication on retrofitting houses for wildfire resiliency.

Steps for hardening houses against wildfire can also be found at the Fire in California website: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Prepare/Building.

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings the power of UC to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.

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This is from Mendocino County:

Mendocino County Opens up COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility /// Condado de Mendocino abre la elegibilidad para vacuna COVID-19

Post Date: 03/02/2021 10:30 AM

Starting March 1, 2021, Mendocino County Public Health will be opening up COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to the following groups, as directed by the state:

• We are continuing to vaccinate all tiers of Phase 1A.
• We are opening up vaccination eligibility to all tiers of Phase 1B, including food, agriculture, logging, education and childcare (including school bus drivers), emergency services, those over the age of 65, and lodging.
• We are opening up eligibility to those between the ages of 16 and 64 with the following comorbidities or disabilities:

-Chronic Kidney Disease (stage 4 or over)

-Chronic Lung Disease (oxygen dependent)

-Cancer

-Heart disease

-Immunocompromised State (from chemotherapy, or other medical conditions)

-Diabetes (with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%)

-Severe Obesity (with a Body Mass Index of >40)

-Sickle Cell Disease

-Pregnancy

-Chronic Disabilities (physical or mental)

Clinicians may use their judgment and include others who would be more vulnerable to COVID-19, or those whose condition would cause more difficulty caring for them if they contracted COVID-19.

If you fit the comorbidity or disability criteria above, please sign up for a county or hospital-hosted vaccination event. A doctors note with Physician letterhead will be required stating that you are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine based on health condition. County-hosted vaccination events are tier-specific or occupation-specific, so be sure to only sign up for an event that you are eligible for. 

If you are eligible and sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine, please bring proof of eligibility such as a drivers license, a letter with your name and address, something that shows your age, a letter from your health care provider regarding health condition, something that shows you work in one of the occupational categories such as a pay stub, business card, or letter from supervisor.

Vaccinations are confidential and do not affect immigration status.

"Since our vaccine supply is increasing, this is the time to get vaccinated," explained County Health Officer, Dr. Andy Coren. "It is a massive effort, and the County is working diligently with our partners to vaccinate as many people as we can efficiently and safely. It will take time, but you'll have your turn.  Sign up at MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255."

Our vaccines are reserved for those who live in Mendocino County, or those who work in Mendocino County. Do NOT sign up for any vaccination event that you are not eligible for. Proof of eligibility is required, and you WILL be turned away if you do not qualify.

To find out which state-established vaccination tier you belong to, please visit: https://myturn.ca.gov/

To view all upcoming county-hosted COVID-19 vaccination events and their eligibility requirements, please visit: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/community/novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccinations/vaccination-clinics

_____________________________________________________________

A partir del 1 de marzo de 2021, el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Mendocino abrirá la elegibilidad para la vacuna COVID-19 a los siguientes grupos, según lo indica el estado:

• Seguimos vacunando todos los niveles de la Fase 1A.
• Estamos abriendo la elegibilidad de vacunación a todos los niveles de la Fase 1B, incluidos alimentos, agricultura, tala, educación y cuidado infantil (incluidos los conductores de autobuses escolares), servicios de emergencia, mayores de 65 años, y alojamiento.
• Estamos abriendo la elegibilidad para aquellos entre las edades de 16 y 64 con las siguientes comorbilidades o discapacidades:

-Enfermedad renal crónica (estado 4 o superior)

-Enfermedad pulmonar crónica (dependiente de oxígeno)

-Cáncer

-Enfermedades cardiacas

-Estado inmunodeprimido (por quimioterapia u otras condiciones médicas)

-Diabetes (con nivel de hemoglobina A1c superior al 7.5%)

-Obesidad severa (con un índice de masa corporal de >40)

-Anemia drepanocítica

-Embarazadas

-Discapacidades crónicas (físicas o mentales)

Los médicos pueden utilizar su criterio e incluir a otras personas que serían más vulnerables al COVID-19, o aquellas cuya condición causaría más dificultades para cuidarlos si contrajeran COVID-19.

Si cumple con los anteriores criterios de comorbilidad o discapacidad, regístrese para una jornada de vacunación organizada por el condado o el hospital. Necesitará una nota del médico con la hoja membretada del doctor que indique que usted es elegible para una vacuna COVID-19, según su estado de salud. Las jornadas de vacunación organizadas por el condado son específicos al nivel o la ocupación, así que asegúrese de solo registrarse en la jornada para la cual sea elegible.

Si es elegible y se registra para la vacuna COVID-19, traiga un comprobante de elegibilidad, como una licencia de conducir, una carta con su nombre y dirección, algo que muestre su edad, una carta de su proveedor de atención médica con respecto a su condición de salud, algo que muestre que trabaja en una de las categorías ocupacionales, como un talón de pago, una tarjeta de presentación o una carta de su supervisor.

Las vacunas son confidenciales y no afectan la situación migratoria.

"Dado que nuestro suministro de vacunas está aumentando, este es el momento de vacunarse", explicó el Dr. Andy Coren, Oficial de Salud del Condado. "Es un esfuerzo enorme, y el Condado está trabajando diligentemente con nuestros socios para vacunar a la mayor cantidad de personas posible de manera eficiente y segura. Tomará tiempo, pero tendrá su turno. Regístrese en MyTurn.ca.gov o llame al 833-422-4255".

Nuestras vacunas están reservadas para quienes viven en el Condado de Mendocino o para quienes trabajan en el Condado de Mendocino. NO se registre en ninguna jornada de vacunación para la cual no sea elegible. Es requerido un comprobante de elegibilidad, y SERÁ rechazado si no califica.

Para saber en qué nivel de vacunación establecido por el estado pertenece, visite: https://myturn.ca.gov/

Para ver todas las próximas jornadas de vacunación COVID-19 organizadas por el condado y sus requisitos de elegibilidad, visite: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/community/novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccinations/vaccination-clinics

Info below on a vaccination schedule. 

Mass vaccination clinic on Wednesday, March 3rd, 8:30 AM -1:30 PM at the Alex Rorabaugh Center (Grace Hudson School) | 1640 S. State St. Ukiah, CA 95482 

Due to the limited supplies, we are still following state and local public health guidelines on prioritizing those individuals in:

Phase IA, all tiers. We have moved on to Phase IB Tier 1 including those over 75 years old, EMS, School and Childcare Staff, and Food and Agricultural workers. The latter includes people directly involved in growing, harvesting, production, preparing, selling, cooking and serving food products as well as cannabis and lumber.

We will also accept persons ages 65 and older and those turning 65 this year. Only sign up if you qualify. 

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040d4eaeac2da3f94-covid1915

This is for a first dose appointment. If you already had your first dose, please ignore this email. If you are scheduled to get your 2^nd dose from Adventist Health, plan on coming to your appointment as you were instructed. No need to do anything else

Please bring your identification (driver's license etc.,) and pay stub, letter from your employer, or anything that shows where you work if qualifying as an essential worker in ag, food or childcare staff.

To make this as safe and as efficient as possible for our team and our community, we ask that you register for your time slot following the instructions on this form. 

Choose a time slot that works for you, then click "Sign-Up". Then click "Submit Sign-Up". You will get a confirmation email. You are not signed-up until you receive the confirmation email. If nothing happens when you click on "Sign-Up" that means the timeslot is full. Move on to the next time slot. You are not signed up until you receive a confirmation email or something that says. "Congrats, you are all signed up."

YOU ONLY NEED TO SIGN-UP FOR ONE TIME SLOT. Please help friends and family register if they do not have computer access or skills, as we want to make sure we are able to use these times wisely while serving as many people as possible. Please help us do this for our community by coming during your reserved time slot.

For questions, or issues with signing-up, please reach out to Cici Winiger, winigecm@ah.org

VERY IMPORTANT: This event is in Ukiah.If you choose to make an appointment and drive from the coast to Ukiah, please be prepared to make the drive for your second dose within 21/28 days. You must get your second dose where you received your first for supply and tracking purposes.

Be sure not to come too early so you will not be waiting. After you've made your appointment, your slot is reserved.

Please ONLY share this message to those who qualify: turning 65 and 65+ and essential workers as mentioned above. We will have to turn away those who do not qualify. Rest assured, there will be more vaccination clinics in the future, if you are not qualified at this time, we will have one in the near future. Please continue checking your email. Sign-up here if you are not signed-up to get email notifications about our vaccine clinics: www.bit.ly/ahmendo_notify or follow our Facebook pages here: https://www.facebook.com/ahukiahvalley  https://www.facebook.com/AHMendocinoCoast   https://www.facebook.com/ahhowardmemorial

If you can't make it, please cancel or let us know 1 day before the event. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. If you've received your vaccination, please ignore this email.

-Adventist Health

---SPANISH---

Para ayudar a proteger del COVID-19 a los más vulnerables de nuestra comunidad, y siguiendo las pautas para darles prioridad vacunar a las personas que tienen 75 años o más, realizaremos un:  

Clínica de Vacunación en lunes 24 de Febrero, de 8:30 – 1:30 PM en la Alex Rorabaugh Center (Grace Hudson School) | 1640 S. State St. Ukiah, CA 95482 

Debido a los suministros limitados, seguimos las directrices estatales y locales de salud pública sobre la priorización de esas personas en la Fase IA, todos los niveles. Hemos pasado a la Fase IB Tier 1, incluidos los mayores de 75 años, el EMS, el personal de escuelas y cuidado de niños y los trabajadores de alimentos y agricultura. Este último incluye a personas directamente involucradas en el cultivo, cosecha, producción, preparación, venta, cocina y servicio de productos alimenticios, así como cannabis y madera. También aceptaremos personas mayores de 65 años en este momento. Solo regístrese si califica. 

Traiga su identificación (licencia de conducir, etc.)  

Para que esto sea seguro y eficiente para nuestro equipo y nuestra comunidad, le pedimos que se registre en un horario siguiendo las instrucciones de este formulario.  

Elija un horario en el que pueda venir, luego haga clic en "Sign-Up". Planee venir en el horario que escogió. Luego haga clic en "Submit Sign-Up". Después, como confirmación recibirá un correo electrónico. Si usted no recibe un correo electrónico, quiere decir que no está registrado. Si al hacer clic en “Sign-Up” no pasa nada, esto quiere decir que ya no hay citas. Vea el siguiente horario.  

Solo regístrese en un horario. Ayude a sus amigos y familiares a registrarse en caso de que no tengan una computadora o no saben cómo usar una, ya que queremos asegurarnos de que podemos usar los todos los horarios para servir a la mayor cantidad de gente posible. Ayúdenos a hacer esto, al venir en el horario que reservó.  

Si tiene preguntas o tiene problemas para registrarse, comuníquese con Cici Winiger, enviando un correo electrónico a: winigecm@ah.org. 

Cici Winiger

Communications Manager/Community Outreach

Adventist Health Howard Memorial I Adventist Health Ukiah Valley I Adventist Health Mendocino Coast