San Diego County CA — Residents in many wildfire-prone communities throughout San Diego County can take advantage of a free chipping service to reduce fire hazard around their homes. Funding for this program is provided by a National Fire Plan grant from the Cooperative Fire Program of the U.S. Forest Service through the California Fire Safe Council.
California residents in wildfire-prone areas are required to have a minimum of 100’ of defensible space around their homes. A key component of creating defensible space includes thinning vegetation, often called fuel reduction. Disposing of this trimmed brush can be a challenge for homeowners, which is why the FSCSDC created this easy and free solution.
Residents who wish to take advantage of this free service must complete a Chipping Request Form, available at: https://ResourceConserverationDistrict.formstack.com/forms/free_chipping_program. Once the form is completed and all requirements of the program are met, the homeowner will be put on the chipping list. Trained, licensed, insured crews bring a chipper to the residence and chip vegetation that the homeowner has prepared. Chipped materials will be left on-site and can be used as mulch – an added benefit of the program.
Currently, 33 communities throughout San Diego County are eligible to participate in this program:
 

Banner Barona Mesa Black Canyon Boulder Creek Boulevard Campo Chihuahua Valley Corte Madera Deerhorn Valley Descanso Dulzura

Escondido Fallbrook Harmony Grove Jacumba Jamul Greater Julian Lake Morena Lawson Valley Lyons Valley Mesa Grande Ramona

Rural Poway Pala Pauma San Pasqual SD Country Estates Santa Ysabel Sherilton Valley Sunshine Summit Valley Center Warner Springs Wynola

For more information about the No-Cost Chipping Program visit the FSCSDC website (www.firesafesdcounty.org) or call 619-562-0096. This program is funding dependent. Completion of the Chipping Request Form is not a guarantee that the property will be chipped. The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation; tax-deductible donations are welcome.