Talmadge Fire Safe Council (Tal-FSC) is a volunteer organization established to promote fire safety for all residents of Talmadge.
What can I do to be more fire safe?
A lot, actually! Below are tips, resources, and best practices related to fire safety.
Download Genasys Protect
Genasys Protect is a community evacuation management tool that fire departments and other emergency responders can use to enhance communications, situational awareness, and coordination during emergencies, particularly wildfires, by providing residents with real-time alerts and safety information through a mobile app and a website.
Maintain your trees properly
Regularly clear out any dry leaves and/or needles on the ground. Fallen leaves and/or needles accumulate on ground, providing additional fuel that can easily ignite and contribute to ember production. Manage the density of your foliage and avoid a high canopy density. Dense foliage can trap heat and facilitate the movement of flames within the canopy, further increasing the risk of ember generation.
Create “Defensible Space”
Defensible space is the landscape between your house and the potential fuel source (dense stands of native or naturalized vegetation).
Read the City’s Full Guide to Defensible Space
Here are some tips and best practices for each Zone:
Zone 2 (35 to 150 feet from your home)
This area often consists of undisturbed natural vegetation and environmentally sensitive habitats, such as those within the City’s protected conservation area.
- Remove invasive plant species and any dead wood and vegetation.
- Thin 50% of the entire Zone 2 area. Thinning means removing smaller or underperforming trees and shrubs to reduce the fuel load.
- Prune all plants that are left after the thinning process so that there is space in between trees and shrubs.
- Don’t remove everything! Some plant coverage needs to be maintained for soil protection.
- Thin and prune plants annually because plants will grow back!
- Only clear brush in sensitive habitats between August 16 through January 31. This protects wildlife during the breeding season.
- Structures and permanent irrigation are not permitted in Zone 2. Grading native soils or habitats is prohibited.
Zone 1 (5 to 35 feet from your home)
- Reduce the fuel load in the last 35 feet around the house and/or between the house and the edge of the canyon.
- Avoid dense shrubs and trees.
- Thin and “checkerboard” shrubs to avoid direct shrub to shrub contact.
- Trim low overhanging branches upwards to avoid shrub to tree branch contact.
- Thin out branches of existing trees and trim the foliage high off the ground (This is often called “lollipopping.”)
- Remove any highly flammable trees (pines, palms, bamboo, eucalyptus)
- Create breaks in “walls” of foliage so that fire does not have a direct pathway along the foliage.
Zone 0 (0 to 5 feet from your home)
Zone 0 is also called the “ignition zone.” Burning embers are often carried a mile or more, and when they land on dry fuel, they ignite. Protect your home by clearing fuel away from the walls of your home. This is especially important near vents, windows, doors, and stairs.
Learn More about Fire Smart Landscaping
Keep embers out of your vents
Most houses have attic vents (and/or crawl space vents) to enable the attic to cool during the heat of the day. In older homes, the mesh that covers the vents is not sufficient to keep sparks out. If a spark enters an attic or crawl space, it can set the insulation or other dry material ablaze, leading to the structure burning.
The good news is this is an easy and inexpensive upgrade to help prevent ember-driven fires. If your vents are not covered with fine mesh (1/16th of an inch or less), you can simply cover or replace the vents in your home with finer mesh.
View Cal-Fire Approved Vent Manufacturers
Replace exposed wood
Cover or replace exposed wood with non-flammable materials, like stucco, tile, metal, cement and Class A flame resistant wood alternatives (such as TimberTech).
It is particularly important to remove any wood in direct contact with the outside of the house, as ignition of wood in direct contact may crack the stucco exterior and expose the frame of the house to direct flame and/or embers.
Report unauthorized canyon activity, smoke, or fire
According to the San Diego Fire Department, by far the most common source of fire in canyons is from human activity. Canyon slopes with pedestrian access and/or roadways at the bottom have the highest hazard. Homeowners on canyons should be vigilant and report any unauthorized or suspicious people in the canyon to the 24 hour non-emergency police number (619-531-2000).
Encampments in the canyon are extremely dangerous and should be reported as quickly as possible. To report an encampment, use the City of San Diego’s Get It Done System. If the encampment is on private property, you should additionally contact the property owner.
If you see smoke, fire, or any activity related to arson, call 911 immediately.
Replant your yard
If you have been impacted by fire, the California Native Plant Society offers a free, downloadable Fire Recovery Guide. Our canyons also provide homes and food for native wildlife, so consider planting native plants, particularly fire resistant plants that provide food to the wildlife (such as Toyon and Buckwheat).
Replanting on a canyon is especially important for erosion control. Because brush normally serves to slow the velocity of water flow and impact, and to hold our hillsides, homeowners should consider taking additional measures to retain the soil until the native plant life grows back. Consider purchasing rice straw wattles (“straw logs”) and straw erosion control blankets. These can be purchased from most garden stores and staked into the hillside.
Planting Dos and Don’ts
DO plant fire-resistant plants, such as:
-
Trees
- Most fruit trees
- Dogwood
- Coral Trees
- Honey Locust
- California Walnut
- Tulip tree
- Coast live oak
- Englemann Oak
- Cork Oak
- California pepper trees (Schinusmolle)
- Lemon bottlebrush (Callistemoncitrinus)
- Toyon (also a good source of food for wildlife)
- California holly (Heteromelesarbutifolia)
- Myoporum (Myoporumlaeturn)
- Catalina cherry (Prunuslyonii)
- Plumeria
- Italian buckthorn (Rhamnusalaternus)
-
Shrubs
- Most succulents
- Agave
- Ceanothus
- Manzanita
- Yarrow
- Toyon
- Mallow
- Cherry
- Matilija Poppy
- Rose
- Verbena
- Yucca
- Aloe
Download a Comprehensive Fire Resistant Plant List
DON’T plant these trees:
- Trees with flammable oils and resins
- Coniferous trees, such as pines, firs, cedars, and spruces
- Eucalyptus
- Certain Cypress varieties, such as Leyland Cypress
- Acacia
- Bay Laurel
- Palms
- Juniper
- Arborvitae
- Brazilian pepper trees
About Talmadge Fire Safe Council
The Mission of Tal-FSC is to:
- Provide a neighborhood forum for the exchange of information through proactive outreach, education, and training.
- Coordinate and expand neighborhood communications.
- Foster fire prevention, resilience, and safety throughout the Talmadge area of San Diego.
Tal-FSC is one of 54 community Fire Safe Councils in San Diego County, supported by the umbrella organization Fire Safe Council of San Diego County.
Community Fire Safe Councils have been referred to as the “neighborhood watch” in supporting San Diego’s fire safety efforts. As grassroots, community-led organizations, they mobilize residents to protect their homes, neighborhoods, and environments from wildfire. They know the unique challenges their community faces and implement such projects as hazardous fuel reduction programs, local wildfire protection planning, and homeowner training to ensure its protection.
On May 19, 2025 Tal-FSC was one of 31 Fire Safe Councils funded with grants from the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation totaling $300,000 to aid in wildfire prevention and preparedness, including community education to make their neighborhoods safer. Talmadge was funded again in 2026 to continue community outreach and the Talmadge Dumpathon.
Tal-FSC collaborates with FSCs in the Mid-City / College area of San Diego to increase the fire resilience for all our communities through the Mid City FSC Coalition. Local partners include Kensington, Alvarado Estates, College Canyons, College East, Normal Heights, and Redwood Village/Rolando Park.
Current Council Members
- Ron Anderson, Litter Pickers & Safety
- Sarah Richards Axford, Chair
- Zach Cameron, Webmaster
- Thomas Chase, At-Large
- Angela Finn, At-Large
- Pam Montroy, At-Large
- Michael Pound, Co-Chair
- Tom Stubberud, Vice Chair
- Karyn Womach, Treasurer
Tal-FSC Opportunities and Events
Dumpathon 2026
Our annual “Dumpathon” is right around the corner! You can help by volunteering to host a dumpster outside your home during the event.
Talmadge Litter Picking
The Talmadge Litter Picking crew keeps Talmadge clean and helps to monitor potential fire, water and other issues in our canyons. The Litter Picking crew generally meets on the 1st Sunday of each month.
Interested? Contact Mike Baldwin at mike@baldwin-group.com.
Listos Events
Listos Neighborhood Parties build community resilience in the face of fire and other emergencies.
- Join neighbors for Refreshments, Raffle Prizes & Games
- Increase your preparation for an emergency
- Get started on a Go Bag
- Ask questions about home hardening & defensible space
Want to host a Listos event? We provide flyers; you provide neighbors. Email us at talmadgefiresafe@gmail.com.
Connect with Talmadge Fire Safe Council
Email talmadgefiresafe@gmail.com
Talmadge Fire Safe Council is supported by
Additional support is provided by the Talmadge Community Association and the Talmadge Block Party Committee.
Recent Fires Near Talmadge
Local fires are not just a hypothetical threat—they can happen, and they have happened before!
2024 Montezuma Fire
On October 31, 2024, a blaze started near an encampment at the base of the canyon along Montezuma Road, eventually burning around 40 acres. Evacuation orders went out to large parts of Talmadge, the College Area, Kensington and Normal Heights. Six homes were damaged, including one lost in Alvarado Estates. Firefighters mentioned that the damage was limited because of the light wind; if the wind had been any stronger, many more homes would likely have been lost.
2021 Aldine Brush Fire
May 5, 2021: SDFD crews responded to a report of a brush fire in the area of Aldine and Fairmount. They located two small fires and were able to prevent them from spreading. No injuries or damage to any structures.
2019 Fairmount Canyon Fire
On October 15, 2019, a fire started in the canyon off of Fairmount Ave. and quickly spread to Kensington and Talmadge. Dozens of homes were evacuated and several streets closed.
1985 Normal Heights Fire
Approximately 2 miles west of Talmadge, a fire fueled by heavy brush and strong winds raced up a series of Mission Valley canyons on June 30, 1985. The Normal Heights Fire destroyed 76 houses and damaged 57 others. Heavy brush in the canyons and around the houses on the canyon rim propelled the fire. 1,000 to 1,500 people were evacuated. It was, at the time, the worst brush fire in San Diego history.
Fire Safety FAQs
Who is responsible for managing brush in the canyon?
Homeowners on canyons are responsible for brush management to protect their own home. They are also responsible for brush management in areas of their property that are within 150 feet of a neighbor’s home. (City of San Diego Municipal Code Section 142.0412(l))
What if some of the brush is on an adjacent property?
If creating defensible space requires thinning on adjacent properties, you must obtain permission from the adjacent property owner. If the adjacent property is owned by the City, a right of entry permit is required.
What’s the difference between “Fire Hazard” and “Fire Risk”?
Fire Hazard is a rating set by the City of San Diego for an entire region. This is based on factors like fuel, slope, and weather. Most of Talmadge is in the City’s highest fire hazard zone, “Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.”
Fire Risk is the potential for damage, which can vary between properties. This is based on factors such as the ability of fire to ignite a structure, the flammability of construction materials, and mitigation measures like defensible space or building design. Individuals can reduce their fire risk by following City fire safety codes, regulations, and recommendations.
Fire Safety Resources
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