As the “Super Bloom” of wildflowers comes to an end this spring, an increase in the dry brush around Santa Clarita is causing concern about the potential of wildfires, officials said Tuesday.

The heavy rains Santa Clarita experienced this winter produced a great wealth of plant life, and as Santa Clarita heats up, this vegetation is expected to dry out and become a conduit for wildfires, according to officials.

As a result, the Los Angeles County Fire Department is encouraging residents to be proactive in an effort to prevent fires around their home.

“‘Hardening your home’ is what we call getting one’s home prepared for a fire,” said Firefighter Specialist Brian Stevens of LACoFD. “Dead vegetation should be cleared in the fire season.”

Checking roofs and rain gutters for dead and dried vegetation is also highly recommended, according to officials.

“An ember from a fire can travel four miles,” added Stevens. “An ember can enter a home through a vent and spark in an attic.”

One-eighth inch mesh is recommended for all vents open to the outside.

LACoFD officials predicted a ‘dangerous’ fire season at the beginning of April, and since then, Santa Clarita has experienced four different fires.

Fire Department officials gave the following tips to help protect residents and their home:

Remove flammable vegetation and other combustible growth within 30 feet of any structures. Increase to 50 feet in high hazard areas.

• Landscape with plants that are drought tolerant and fire resistant.
• Space trees and shrubs a minimum of 15 feet apart or three times their diameter from other shrubs.
• Trees should be spaced to allow a minimum of 30 feet between canopies at maturity.
• For trees taller than 18 feet, prune lower branches within six feet of the ground. For trees and shrubs of less than 18 feet, prune lower branches to one-third of their height.
• Maintain all plants by regularly removing dead branches and leaves.
• Remove all stacks of combustible materials.
• Stack wood at least 30 feet from structures. Remove flammable vegetation within 10 feet of woodpile.
• Store any butane or propane tanks at least 10 feet away from any structure.
• Identify at least two exit routes from your neighborhood.
• Clear flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and driveways.

“The biggest thing the residents can do to help us with is to honor those brush fire clearances,” said Tom Stukey, a battalion chief for the LACoFD. “The more defensible space you provide us around your home, it will make that much easier for us to protect it.”

While these fire prevention tips are not required by law, they are highly recommended to help increase the safety of Santa Clarita residents and their homes.

Fire prevention efforts inside the home can be equally important, according to officials.

It is recommended by Fire officials that every home contains two fire extinguishers: one in the garage and the other in the kitchen.

The life of a fire extinguisher can be extended by rotating it every few months to prevent settling of its contents, according to officials.

Evacuation notices should be taken seriously, and residents are encouraged to leave their homes before evacuation orders are issued in the case of a brush fire, according to Stevens.

“Residents preemptively leaving their homes not only opens the roads for first responders but allows focus to firefighting,” Stevens said.

For the “Ready, Set, Go!” Personal Wildfire Action Plan, visit the Los Angeles County Fire Department site.

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