Community Chipping Program

Chipping Events - Reduce Wildfire Risk in Your Community

Wildfires spread faster than you think! San Diego County Fire/CAL FIRE in coordination with the Resource Conservation District (RCD) are providing free Chipping Events throughout the County. Don't miss out! 

Once you have taken steps to protect your property by thinning and trimming hazardous brush, you are often left with large piles of dry vegetation. Community Chipping Events are designed so that residents can bring their hazardous vegetation to a central location in the community to be chipped and hauled away. You can bring your extra dry brush and tree trimmings to these events. and we’ll chip it up for safe disposal. 

By keeping the area around your home clean and safe, you can reduce wildfire risk and protect your community! Clearing dry brush and excess vegetation around your home creates defensible space, helping to slow the spread of fire.  It makes it easier for  firefighters to protect your house.   

How It Works

  • Gather tree branches, brush, and shrubs (No trash or vegetation netting)
  • Bring the vegetation to the event location.
  • Watch as your vegetation is chipped and safely disposed       

Upcoming Chipping Events

March 28 Fallbrook Corner of S. Mission Rd and Peppertree Lane Ken Derry kenderry@aol.com
April 25 Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove 2850 Harmony Grove Road Erik Trogden etnorthcounty@hotmail.com
May 23 Los Tules - Warner Springs 32995 Cam Moro, Warner Springs Kit Smith  firesafecouncillostules@gmail.com
June 13 Inland Rural FSC  Dehesa Elementary School. 4612 Dehesa Rd. El Cajon, CA 92019 Teresa Greenhalgh  greenhalghdarren5@gmail.com
June 27 Ramona West End  TBD Kristi Mansolf kmansolf@gmail.com
July 11 Julian  Julian Union High School. 1656 CA-78, Julian, CA 92036 Kim Simas jfsc@bc-ct.org
July 25 Poway Fire Poway High School 15500 Espola Rd Beverly Dunlap powaynec@gmail.com
August 8 Julian  Julian Union High School. 1656 CA-78, Julian, CA 92036 Kim Simas jfsc@bc-ct.org
August 22   Fallbrook      Corner of S. Mission Rd and      Peppertree Lane  Ken Derry kenderry@aol.com
September 12 Los Tules - Warner Springs 32995 Cam Moro, Warner Springs Kit Smith firesafecouncillostules@gmail.com
September 26 Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove 2850 Harmony Grove Road Erik Trogden etnorthcounty@hotmail.com
October 24 Escondido TBD Denise Rolen drolenbiz@gmail.com

Your local Fire Safe Council organizes community chipping events in targeted areas, dependent on funding. These events may change due to weather or safety concerns, like red flag warnings, so it's best to check their website for updates. The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County might have additional events. Availability and locations can change without notice.

Please note: 

Community Chipping events are organized by local Fire Safe Councils and supported by partnerships with organizations like the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County, CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire, San Diego City Fire-Rescue, local fire districts, and the Resource Conservation District. Funding comes from the Regional Resilience Grant Program under the Governor’s Office of Land Use & Climate Innovation.

 In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

Contact Us

For more information, contact the San Diego County Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at  fireCRR@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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  • Who can participate?

    Community residents in surrounding the event area.

  • Does SDCFPD community program go door to door?

    No, San Diego County Fire Protection District does not go door to door. We work with your local fire safe council to locate a general area for drop off. Our crew will unload from your trailer or truck bed. No need to exit the vehicle. If you need door to door service contact the Fire Safe Council of San Diego  who provides door to door service in some communities. We highly recommend to contact RCD at The Fire Safe Council of San Diego website..

  • What size of material is not allowed?

    Material in excess of 6” in diameter will not be allowed.

    No construction debris, palm fronds, ice plant  or trash is allowed.

    Material including, but not limited to, palm, succulents, and poison oak will not be chipped.

    Old, matted stickers and/or lumber are not eligible for chipping.

  • What type of material is allowed?

    Tree branches (up to 6 inches in diameter)

    Brush and shrubs

  • Should I tie-up or bag my material?

    No, material that is bagged or tied-up cannot go into the chipper. 

  • How much material can I bring?

    The chipping truck can typically hold 20 yards.  Residents can bring material until the truck is full.