Sacramento Cracking Down On Fire Danger Of Overgrown, Blighted Properties

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — City officials are cracking down on overgrown and blighted properties.

The city started its weed abatement program early this year while under pressure to do more to prevent grass fires.

More than 7,000 lots in Sacramento city limits are in violation of city code.

"The onus is on the property owner to maintain their property," said Carl Simpson with Sacramento Code Enforcement during a March interview. "The city cannot simply maintain 7500 parcels, we just can't do it."

His department spent months warning people to cut down the weeds or pay up.

"The property owner would be responsible for payment for the contractors services in addition to a 20 percent administrative fee that we tack on to that, in addition to administrative penalties that we issue on the property," he said.

Since an April 15 compliance deadline, the city's given out more than $40,000 in fines to at least 40 property owners.

"On a windy day or a big fire day, those fires can get into the homes and cause a house fire very easily," said Chris Harvey with the Sacramento City Fire Department.

Right now, high temperatures and low humidity means the fire danger is growing.

"You can have some real shifty winds, real gusty winds that make for explosive fire behavior," Harvey said.

He says protecting yourself and your neighbors comes down to property maintenance.

"It's not just mowing the grass, but it's removing any flammables," Harvey said.

Last July on Jacinto Road there was a textbook scenario of disaster. A grass fire hit a wood fence covered in tall brush.

"Wind-driven, it went right through the wood fence and got into the homes," said Harvey.

Five homes were damaged in that fire.

"Bigger and bigger so close to the house," said Kenny Vang who lives near an overgrown vacant lot.

Grass fires at a moment's notice. Something homeowners like Vang say are a constant worry.

"Boom, boom, boom, you know, danger. I don't like that," said Vang.

City officials encourage people to call 311 to report overgrown lots.