PMFSC PRIORITIES

PMFSC Monthly Dumpster Program

To help Palomar residents and landowners protect their homes from wildfire by improving their defensible space, the PMFSC provides a monthly 20 ft roll-off dumpster for debris removal from May to October.  The PMFSC dumpster program removes more than 22 tons of debris each year from the mountain substantially improving Palomar Mountain defensible space.

The dumpster is located on Summit Circle across from the Crestline Group campground near the Palomar Mountain CAL FIRE Station 79.   The dumpster is available until full on Saturday (8AM-12 PM) and Sunday (8AM-10AM) on the 1st weekend each month during the late spring, summer, and early fall. Since the dumpster is often full by 11AM Saturday morning.  Come early. Don't be turned away!

 A PMFSC Board member is present to supervise and answer questions. Although most types of debris are acceptable, toxic chemicals, tires or electronic appliances cannot be discarded in the dumpster. 

Dumpster days are dependent on availability of grant funding. Available dates are posted on Nextdoor. 

Maintaining the legally required 100 feet of defensible space around your property is a challenge for homeowners. After removing, thinning and trimming brush and trees, you are left with large piles of dry wood and vegetation which are themselves a fire hazard.

PMFSC On-Site Community Chipping Program

The PMFSC provides free, on-site chipping at your property. Chipping is scheduled so that multiple home sites can be chipped on the same day. Chipping days are dependent on  weather, fuel moisture, chipping contractor availability and having enough chipping sites to fill an entire workday. 

If you have vegetation to be chipped, contact Robert Carlyle (760-742-1891), our PMFSC Chipping Program manager, who coordinates and schedules all PMFSC on-site chipping.  

Chipping is dependent on availability of grant funding. 

Fire retardant gel is a biodegradable, thermal protective coating that can protect your home from wildfire.  Fire gel absorbs many times it’s weight in water and, when sprayed on surfaces, adheres firmly in many layers of protective, water filled “bubblets.”   The liquid concentrate, applied with a standard garden hose several hours before fire threatens,  protects structures and wood, metal, glass surfaces from fire for 24 hours or longer depending upon weather conditions. Misting the coating with additional water spray can extend the protection time. Fire gel “Home Kits” typically include several gallons of fire gel, a garden hose applicator and instructions. 

Dependent on availability of grant funding, the PMFSC  provides free Fire Gel Home Kits to Palomar Mountain homeowners. To obtain a Fire Gel Home Kit, contact the PMFSC at  info@palomarfiresafecouncil.org.  Hands-on classes for fire gel application, removal and storage are periodically scheduled and posted on Nextdoor.   

  https://firesafesdcounty.org/ 

Home assessment Program https://firesafesdcounty.org/hap/

The Home Assessment Program provides free, educational, on-site, home assessments for San Diego County residents by trained staff to assist homeowners with understanding defensible space and home hardening principles, and taking action to improve their homes to meet wildfire resilience goals. See map for specific time frames for different areas in San Diego County.

Currently not available for Palomar Mountain. 

Community Chipping Program https://firesafesdcounty.org/community-chipping-program/

Contractors from the Community Chipping Program for defensible space, chip the cleared vegetation on site, free of charge, for residents living in high fire risk properties in San Diego County. Requires prior participation in Home Assessment program. 

Defensible Space Assistance Program https://firesafesdcounty.org/dsap/

The Defensible Space Assistance Program (DSAP) is designed to assist homeowners that need to create defensible space, and are not able to do so because of physical, economic or other barriers. Requires prior participation in Home Assessment program.