This call involves a fire resulting from the land owner not
cutting his weeds down per city ordinance.
Smoking Grass
This call involves a fire resulting from the land owner not cutting his weeds down per city ordinance. (See “Fire Threatened Homes” June 28 and “Neglect Breeds Danger” June 29) I am concerned about the threat of fire during the holiday weekend. I see unkempt weeds in my neighborhood and I fear more fires will occur if the landowners and the city don’t get on top of it.
Red Phone:
Dear Blazing with Concern:
Your concerns are valid. Recent fires in our area and flames spreading all over the Lake Tahoe region are reason to raise the alert for fire safety here in South Valley. Fuel that with big celebration barbecues, and God Bless America, you’ve got a hot topic here, Blaze.
While it is a perfect time to clean up weeds and debris on your property, be careful when you do your yard work. Red Phone talked to Fire Chief Dale Foster, Gilroy’s local Smokey the Bear for fire safety. He said the most common issues for recent fires have been ignition sources from people working in the hot part of the day using equipment with heat producing engines. Lawnmowers, weedwhackers, trimmers, anything that can create sparks are real dangers in Gilroy afternoons. Blow on that with the wind in our valley and you’ve got even more of a chance for flames to ignite. “Most people don’t realize how dry the fuel is or how significant the wind is in a dry field,” Foster said. “Be careful what you do and the time of day you do it.” Also, be sure to have a means to extinguish in case something unexpected happens.
Red Phone suggests getting the yard work done before the afternoon scorch so you can dedicate the afternoon to better things, like sangria.
Seeing Stars
Red Phone:
What’s protocol for displaying the flag for the Fourth of July?
Dear Flag etiquette:
It’s no boy scout, but Red Phone says: on July 4, hang your flag on a pole in front of your house. Alan Viarengo, however, is the Scout Master for Gilroy’s Troup 792 and he says there’s more to it. First, it’s a pretty good looking flag so you should hang it from the highest point of your house such as the peak above your garage door (but don’t break your neck doing it). If you don’t have a pole you can hang it vertically by the grommets, flat against a wall. Don’t hang it horizontally because you’d be putting holes in Old Glory and that is not nice. Lastly, when you’re handling it, don’t let the flag touch the ground.
Light ’em if You Got ’em
Red Phone:
What’s up with all the fireworks booths in town? Jesus, I feel like I’m living in the Bible belt. This can’t be legal.
Dear Deep South,
Light ‘er up! You can buy “Safe and Sane” fireworks at 16 booths set up around the city from 9am Sunday July 1 through 10pm Wednesday, July 4. (See “Safe and Sane Only, ” June 27 for all the details and locations). The city is very serious about the rules and will be issuing citations for anything that flies or explodes. Rules and safety information are available at each booth.
Red Phone chatted with Dale Foster on fireworks too, and the chief says the city is bumping up it’s resources for the holiday. They’ll have two additional fire units and additional equipment and staff on hand for the Fourth, thanks to funds that come from the Safe and Sane project.
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