Firefighters aboard engines will start driving the streets— and alleys — of Manteca on May 1.

They will be looking for weeds 6 inches and higher as well as other fire hazardous.

That means residents have at least two weeks to comply with city rules to avoid receiving citations.

“This year will be bad,” Manteca Fire Chief Dave Marques said of the potential for grass fires.

That’s because the 14 atmospheric rivers that slammed the area have helped fuel an overabundance of weeds.

And as the weather warms and those weeds dry out, they will present a significant fire hazard.

The Northern San Joaquin Valley is not immune from disastrous grass fires simply because it is essentially flat and has no rolling terrain.

Two years ago, four homes were destroyed when a grass fire spread through a portion of the Islander Mobile Home Park near the end of West Woodward Avenue in rural Manteca.

Three years ago, a grass fire destroyed four homes and heavily damaged four others in Stockton.

And 15 years ago, a grass fire along Interstate 5 near March Lane got out of control and destroyed 36 homes in Stockton.

If a violation exists, the property owner will receive a written notice of violation requesting the property owner to cut the weeds or vegetation within 30 days of the written notice.

If the property owner fails to comply within the given time, the city will then proceed to hire an independent contractor to mow the property. The owner will be responsible for the cost of the contractor’s work.

In addition to the abatement costs, the property owner will also receive a municipal infraction citation with a mandatory penalty of $100 for the first offense, $200for the second offense and $500 each subsequent offense.

 “The Manteca Fire Department has seen a reduction in weed abatement citations over the past two years,” Marques said. “It is our goal to reduce fire hazards in Manteca through the abatement of this common nuisance. We’re grateful to achieve compliance from our residents without the need to issue citations whenever possible, ultimately creating a safer community for all.”

Thes program is designed to enforce the city ordinance governing property owners’ responsibility to control weeds or other growth on their property to reduce fire hazards.

The Manteca Fire Prevention Bureau is responsible for administering this program and is currently responding to citizen complaints regarding properties in violation of the City’s weed ordinance.

Manteca’s weed

abatement rules

The following standards apply within Manteca’s city limits:

*Property of 1/2 acre or more: Mow all vegetation to a maximum of 4 to 6 inches in height. Remove all grass, weeds or debris from the property. Disc or till the entire property. (In the process of abating property, keep dust production to a minimum to ensure compliance with Manteca Municipal Code Section 8.17 - Prevention of airborne sand, soil or dust traveling to neighboring properties in visible amounts.)

*Property of 1/2 acre or less: Mow all vegetation to a maximum of 4 to 6 inches in height. Rake and remove all dry grass.

* Trees and shrubs: All dead trees, shrubs and bushes must be cut down and removed from the property. Prunings must also be removed from the property.

•*Alleys: Mow all grass and/or weeds to a maximum of 4 to 6 inches in height. Fence lines must be clean and free of weeds. Any and all combustibles must be removed. This includes, but is not limited to trash, rubbish, dry grass, prunings, clippings, auto parts and furniture. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of the alley from the property line to the center of the alley.

*All properties: All weeds, rubbish, excess dirt, trash, dry vegetation, discarded furniture, appliances, garbage, auto parts or other material which constitutes a public nuisance, must be abated from the property fence line to fence line.

 If you have questions about the Weed Abatement Program or would like to report a property that is not being maintained, please call the Fire Prevention Bureau at (209) 456-8340.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com