Facilities Ignition Prevention and Catholic Cemetery Fuels Reduction

Facilities Ignition Prevention and Catholic Cemetery Fuels Reduction

State Parks Northern Buttes District is planning to perform a Facility Ignition Prevention Program (FIPP) and Wildfire and Forest Resilience Program (WFRP)-project at Shasta State Historic Park. The FIPP work will undertake four (4) main actions at Shasta State Historic Park to increase the survivability of the park’s historical and critical infrastructures during wildfires, and are as follows: Repairs or in-kind replacements to the 1939 Schoolhouse: • Install new wood fascia to replace materials burned in the 2018 Carr Fire; • Remove the existing dilapidated metal roof and install metal flashing over the replaced fascia an up onto the roof underlayment; and • Use in-kind materials to replace the dilapidated metal roof. Repairs or in-kind replacements to the 1990 reconstructed replica Blumb Bakery and adjacent Litsch Store porch: • Replace the deteriorating non-fire rated wood shake shingles on the structure and attached porch overhang to an in-kind synthetic Class A fire rated material; • Install metal flashing at all roof-to-wall intersections to reduce ignition potential of the structures’ wood siding; • Upgrade all vent screens to 1/8-in. and install an approved spark arrestor to the chimney outlet to prevent flying embers from entering the structure; • Fill/repair any holes or spaces that are vulnerable to wildfire ember cast; and • Repair/Replace the deteriorating non-fire rated wood shake shingle on the Litsch/Leo Store porch overhang with an in-kind synthetic Class A fire rated material. Vegetation removal: Remove and thin out overgrown vegetation located within the 30-ft zone that poses a hazard to any structure in the event of a wildfire. This will create a defensible space, reduce fire intensity and reduce the risk of fire spreading from surrounding vegetation to the structures. This work will focus on the areas surrounding the historic Courthouse, Schoolhouse, and associated outbuildings. The more vulnerable structures may require a 5-ft scrape down to bare mineral soil (where feasible) with the objective of creating non-combustible zones around vulnerable structures. Water lines: This work will install a new above ground valve to allow add-ons to an existing waterline to bring water to sprinklers placed on the roof of the historic courthouse building. The proposed WFRP project/work will occur within approx. 6.5 acres of lands adjacent to Highway 299, including in the Catholic Cemetery and is as follows: • Remove hazardous trees of varying diameters; • Remove standing dead vegetation; • Selectively thin any dense regrowing live vegetation; • Chip materials on site to a maximum chip bed depth of 4 inches; • Burn material on site in 4-ft x 4-ft piles in accordance with local fire and air quality district regulations; and • Treat invasive species by hand removal or via herbicides including. No chipping or burning will take place within the Catholic Cemetery. Standing trees should be felled September 1 – March 15 to avoid nesting birds. Surveys by a Parks-approved biologist could allow for removal of trees outside this work window if no active migratory birds, nests or young are found

Shasta

Shasta

Citywide, Northern California