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Bunyon Bros. Takes Steps to Reduce Fire Hazards

U.S. Draught Monitor California

Due to recent riverbed fires in Paso Robles, Bunyon Bros. Tree Service has added a new Cat Excavator with a masticating head to our fleet, which will assist in reducing future fire hazards.

Mastication is a fuel reduction treatment used in forestry management to reduce wildfire risk. Unlike Cat models with steel tracks, which are brutal on softer ground and roadways, the new excavator has rubber tracks, which practically glide across grass, dirt, and other soft surfaces. This opens up more access opportunities along with further reach capability.

The new excavator reaches 25 feet. This allows the excavator to reach land that is too steep to drive on.

California fires have been a consistent concern, and the risk has been increasing over the last five years.

According to The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), in 2016 there were an estimated 669,534 acres burned with 1,274 structures damaged or destroyed, as well as three fatalities. Cal Fire reports the figures have increased each year since, with California’s biggest fire season in history burning 1,963,100 acres, with 24,226 structures damaged or destroyed, and 100 fatalities in the year 2018.

The year 2019 brought more rain in January and February than in the entire year of 2018. This took California out of its drought and in turn reduced fire hazards. Cal Fire reports the year 2019 had 259,823 acres burn with 732 structures damaged or destroyed and three fatalities.

U.S. Draught Monitor CaliforniaCalifornia Drought Monitor

The Central Coast’s rainy March 2020 brought San Luis Obispo County back from the brink of a drought, brought on by a very dry winter. As a whole, about 75% of the state is dry, and about 25% of areas aren’t experiencing drought conditions.

Along with rain comes new growth such as shrubs, bushes, or small trees. When the California drought returns, this brush will require routine maintenance to keep fire hazards to a minimum.

Bunyon Bros. has been safely serving the tree maintenance needs of the Central Coast for more than 30 years. We take pride in staffing the best and most qualified employees, including an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and (4) ISA Certified Arborists.

Our crew members use top of the line, modern technology, keeping us highly efficient and one step ahead of wildfires.

If you are looking for tree service, call Bunyon Bros. at 805-547-1903.

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We Are Open During This COVID-19 Crisis

Bunyon Bros. Tree Service

In the interest of public safety. Bunyon Bros. has and will remain open through these difficult times as an “essential service” to better serve the community and central coast.

Our staff & crews are working diligently to adhere to all current and new public health and safety orders & social distancing recommendations.

Bunyon Bros. Tree Service

Keep up to date with our local COVID-19 orders & recommendations.

https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency/Public-Health/Department-News/COVID-19-Updates.aspx

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Bunyon Bros has won “Best of SLO” Tree Trimming Service

Best of SLO Winner

Thanks for voting Bunyon Bros. “Best tree trimming service” in the 2019 New Times “Best of SLO county” Poll.

The new times holds there annual poll open to all central coast residents. The votes were tallied and Bunyon Bros has been voted Best for 2019.

Best of SLO Winner

Bunyon Bros. We are located in San Luis Obispo CA Premiere Tree Service – Certified Arborists Serving the Central Coast (Santa Maria, Paso Robles, SLO, Pismo, Arroyo Grande) FREE ESTIMATES! Call us now! (805) 547-1903

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Large Dead Tree Removal and Billboard Clearance

Large Dead Tree Removal and Billboard Clearance

Crew #4 rain or shine we are ready to help u through the storm ,we are a crew of skillful men working to get your job done with quality work,we handle every step with a brief overhead of the job and then work like well oiled machines getting the job done with great caution knowing that obstacles are always in the way,we focus on our surroundings and make it a safe environment for our customers, today we took down two huge pines at Lopez lake then headed over to Nipomo for a billboard clearance for trilogy, we work rain or shine,call today,the storm is here, (805) 547-1903 and or certified arborists Ron, Sean or Bill will be happy to come and help u on the assessment of your trees,if you have an emergency call Bunyon brothers tree, we are here to make sure you are safe.

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CAL-FIRE PSA: Defensible zones for Fire Clearance

Defensible Zones for Fire Clearance

PRESENTED BY CAL-FIRE

Keep your property lean and green to help protect your family and home.

Creating defensible space is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. It’s the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire—either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters defending your home.

Defensible Space Zones
Two zones make up the required 100 feet of defensible space.

Zone 1
Zone 1 extends 30 feet* out from buildings, structures, decks, etc.

  • Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds (vegetation).
  • Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof and rain gutters.
  • Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees.
  • Remove branches that hang over your roof and keep dead branches 10 feet away from your chimney.
  • Relocate wood piles into Zone 2.
  • Remove or prune flammable plants and shrubs near windows.
  • Remove vegetation and items that could catch fire from around and under decks.
  • Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.

Zone 2
Zone 2 extends 100 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc.

  • Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches.
  • Create horizontal spacing between shrubs and trees. (See diagram)
  • Create vertical spacing between grass, shrubs and trees. (See diagram)
  • Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of 3 inches.

* San Diego County requires 50 feet of clearance in Zone 1. Check with your local fire department for any additional defensible space or weed abatement ordinances.

Defensible Zones for Fire Clearance

Plant and Tree Spacing
The spacing between grass, shrubs, and trees is crucial to reduce the spread of wildfires. The spacing needed is determined by the type and size of brush and trees, as well as the slope of the land. For example, a property on a steep slope with larger vegetation requires greater spacing between trees and shrubs than a level property that has small, sparse vegetation.

Vertical Spacing
Remove all tree branches at least 6 feet from the ground.

Allow extra vertical space between shrubs and trees. Lack of vertical space can allow a fire to move from the ground to the brush to the tree tops like a ladder.

To determine the proper vertical spacing between shrubs and the lowest branches of trees, use the formula below.

Example: A five foot shrub is growing near a tree. 3×5 = 15 feet of clearance needed between the top of the shrub and the lowest tree branch.

Horizontal Spacing
Horizontal spacing depends on the slope of the land and the height of the shrubs or trees. Check the chart below to determine spacing distance.

FIRE-SAFE LANDSCAPING
Fire-safe landscaping isn’t necessarily the same thing as a well-maintained yard. Fire-safe landscaping uses fire-resistant plants that are strategically planted to resist the spread of fire to your home.

The good news is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make your landscape fire-safe. And fire-safe landscaping can increase your property value and conserve water while beautifying your home.