Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The reason they want to stop using pinestraw is because on a windy day like the day of the fire, a discarded cigarette can easily blow into another area. It does not have to be thrown directly into the pinestraw. Also, mulch is much less flammable, especially in starting a fire from a small source like a cigarette and might smolder, but will not rapidly catch fire like in this case.
As far as lot size, it is not helping, but on a windy day, cinders can easily jump from house to house even if they are further apart like in older subdivisions.
For example, townhomes in Apex are no longer allowed to use pinestraw near the buildings. So the subdivisions had to switch to mulch (at a 50% increase in cost). It would be better to outlaw smoking near the pine straw and the buildings! In my opinion, it's not "stupid pine straw" as much as it is "stupid littering irresponsible smokers". Smokers throwing cigarettes off balconies and out windows and off decks is a MAJOR problem for managers at townhomes and condos. You'd think throwing their nasty butts all over the streets would be enough for them, but no- they want to come home and ruin their neighborhoods too. Disgusting.
Years back they did not use garbage wood and garbage pine straw for mulch. They used live stuff like pacasandra, Ivy and other ground covers. It was green and alive. But dummies decided it would be great to sell ground up waste wood and pine needles that fall from the trees at 4 bucks a bag. Odd.
Under PSI - thx for sharing. Your post has comments that say the fire dept had water pressure problems..hmm? It's strange that there are at least 3 fire depts within a 3-4 mins emergency drive from the subdiv. The one on buffaloe, one on New Hope Rd at 401, One on Forestville and I think one further up Forestville on the west side of the subdiv.
Was the reason the homes burned this badly because nobody saw it until it was engulfed?
There was no real problem with water pressure other than there were 7 hydrants being used. When using that much water, pressure has no choice but to get low.
The reason the fire got that bad was a combination of factors. Dormant bermuda grass next to pine straw, pine straw next to vinyl siding, strong wind and low humidity. Almost the exact same problem as the fire off Capital Blvd. a few years ago.
Years back they did not use garbage wood and garbage pine straw for mulch. They used live stuff like pacasandra, Ivy and other ground covers. It was green and alive. But dummies decided it would be great to sell ground up waste wood and pine needles that fall from the trees at 4 bucks a bag. Odd.
Dumb to sell it or dumb to buy it? Seems like the folks selling it were pretty smart.
It would be better to outlaw smoking near the pine straw and the buildings!
Seriously? You think a law will stop it? As if we don't have enough obscure laws nobody knows about already. Why don't we just make a law saying everyone has to have common sense.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.