Fwd: [mclarenparkcollaborative Potential Fire Hazards to properties from wild grasses around McLaren Park
Linda Stark Litehiser
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Bishop, Lamonte' (REC)" <lamonte...@sfgov.org>
Date: July 1, 2025 at 9:42:39 AM PDT
To: tranm...@yahoo.com, "Choi, Daniel (REC)" <danie...@sfgov.org>, Linda Stark Litehiser <linda....@gmail.com>, Chuck Farrugia <helpm...@gmail.com>
Cc: "Sionkowski, Carol (REC)" <carol.si...@sfgov.org>
Subject: FW: [mclarenparkcollaborative Potential Fire Hazards to properties from wild grasses around McLaren Park
Hi Marlene,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding fuel load reduction efforts at McLaren Park.
Earlier this year, responding to public interest in better understanding the wildfire risk, the State Fire Marshall released an updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for San Francisco (see attached). This map shows that no parks in our system have a notable wildfire risk. This contrasts sharply with the wildland-urban interface land in LA, and much of the rest of California where we have seen recent wildfires, which have a markedly higher wildfire risk rating. At the local level, wildfire in San Francisco was evaluated as a public safety risk most recently in Section 4.9 of the 2020 San Francisco Hazards and Climate Resilience Plan. This plan found that “the probability of wildfire or wildland-urban interface fires within San Francisco is low.”
Each year, the Recreation and Park Department (RPD) conducts fire abatement in coordination with the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD). In line with fire prevention guidance from the Fire Marshal and consistent with state regulations, we clear flammable materials within 30 feet of inhabited structures. This includes trimming dry grasses and removing downed, dry vegetation, but not green vegetation, live trees, or low-fuel materials that do not pose a fire risk. Fire abatement reduces the volume of flammable vegetation, referred to as “fuel.” The area where this work occurs around structures is called “defensible space.” RPD typically completes this work by May 31st each year.
In some cases, we leave select woody materials on site to help prevent erosion, support wildlife habitat, and maintain soil health. Larger logs and low-fuel materials are left to decompose naturally, enriching the soil over time. We do not use goats because they clear everything, including native vegetation and some of the grasses are native species.
Regards,
LaMonte’____________________________________
LaMonté Bishop
Senior Manager of Policy and Public Affairs
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department
City & County of San Francisco
McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park
501 Stanyan Street | San Francisco, CA | 94117
E-mail: LaMonte...@sfgov.org
Direct: (415) 831-2769
