The Alpine Fire Protection District encourages residents to use their online form, Hazard Complaints, to report any conditions that may lead to a fire.
“It is an online form that a homeowner can fill-out anonymously,” said fire marshal Jason McBroom. “Homeowners may not be aware of the online form. Forms are acted on within 48 hours and a notice of abatement is issued.”
“Dead grass, dead trees and basic junk in people’s yards,” he said on what types of fire hazards to report.
“Most complaints are phoned in, we get an average of 50 phone calls a year,” McBroom said. “We received 15 online complaints last year. Most are credible complaints.”
According to McBroom the form debuted in April 2018.
“Within a few months the form had traction,” said McBroom. “The party filling out the complaint will have to provide a phone number and name.”
The form also requires the date, name of person submitting the complaint, their address, email, phone number, type of hazard, location and description of hazard.
According to McBroom peak fire season runs from August to November.
Warming fires are allowed in some instances.
“Homeowners are allowed to have warming fires, in an approved non-combustible fire pit or ring,” said McBroom. “No warming fires are permitted in multi-family structures.”
McBroom encourages any vested parties to read the Alpine Fire Protection District’s Facebook page that relays locations of fires and provides updated information as it unfolds.
“They can find us on social media if a fire or emergency occurs,” said McBroom.
If a hazard complaint is submitted on a rented home the notice goes to the owner of record.
“Defensible space is everyone’s responsibility to help keep Alpine fire safe,” he said. “The east county area, including Alpine, is at high risk for wildfires. We encourage homeowners to be vigilant.”
Visit https://www.alpinefire.org/hazard-complaints/ to file a report.
