FIREWISE ZONE 700

 Proactive steps for community fire prevention 

ZONE 700
Zone 700 in the Kelly Ridge area of Oroville, California, encompasses the following streets:

  • Woodman Drive (Upper & Lower)
  • Fall River Court
  • Mt. Ratchel Court
  • Dillard Court
  • The west side of Royal Oaks Drive from Jack Hill Dr. up to Kelly Ridge Rd.
This zone is part of the Kelly Ridge Estates Owners' Association and is recognized as a Firewise USA® community, indicating active efforts in wildfire risk reduction.

                  ZONE 7OO CO-LEADERS ARE;

      KIM PRESTON - kimmerallison@comcast.net
       SANDY GRAHAM - sandyjg888@gmail.com

If you would like a "FREE" Defensible Space Assessment, please get in touch with Kim or Sandy at their email address above. 

BUTTE COUNTY FIRE-SAFE COUNCIL'S VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Kim Preston

Co-Leader of Firewise Zone 700

"Volunteer of the Year award for 2025. Long list of achievements, including the Prepared Fair in October, plus CERT, and many other activities in Butte County.

ABOUT US & CERTIFICATION
Recognized by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) on March 14, 2025, "Zone 700, Kelly Ridge, Oroville" is a FirewiseUSA Program. It includes all of Woodman Drive, Fall River Court, Mt. Ratchel Court, Dillard Court, and the properties on the North Side of Royal Oaks from Jackhill Dr. to Kelly Ridge Road.
The Zone 700 Project seeks to engage the neighborhood by creating defensible space around each property to reduce wildfire danger.

IF YOU LIVE IN ZONE 700, YOU MAY DOWNLOAD A CERTIFICATE - GO TO THE GALLERY AND CLICK ON 
THE CERTIFICATE TO PRINT IT.

RIGHT-CLICK ON CERTIFICATE TO COPY & PRINT

EVENTS

 Our 2nd Annual Butte County Prepared Fair was "A HUGE SUCCESS!" Sponsored by Firewise Zone 700 and the Butte Fire Safe Council. Held at the North Forebay SRA on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Exhibitors were: 1. CalFire and CalFire Defensible Space Inspectors 2. Butte County Fire Safe Council 3. Firewise Zone 700 4. Dam View Firewise 5. Butte County CERT 6. Butte County Office of Emergency Management 7. Butte County Community GMRS 8. Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services 9. California State Parks 10. PG&E 11. Butte 211 12. Oroville Fire Department 13. Red Cross 14. Hudson Farms Goats 15. CA Office of Emergency Services/LISTOS 16. North Valley Animal Disaster Group 17. Rowdy Burgers 18.Kona Shaved Ice In addition to these agencies and groups indicating they intend to participate in next year’s Prepared Fair on Saturday, October 3, 2026, some asked for additional space. More than 200 people attended this year’s event and received information on how to establish a defensible space on their property and harden their home against fire danger. Attendees also received samples of mesh screening for keeping embers out of vents, how to start a Firewise community site, and how to apply for fire insurance discounts in a Firewise area. And the treats! They petted baby goats and enjoyed root beer floats! This event was inspired by Yuba County’s Prepared Fairs and organized by Firewise Zone 700 co- leader, Kim Preston, who established contact with the agencies and groups participating in the event. Kim and co-leader Sandy Graham, of Zone 700, are available to help new groups form Firewise communities and are trained by CalFire to perform property assessments to aid residents in how to create defensible space around their homes. This service is voluntary, and all recommendations are up to the homeowner to implement at their own pace and discretion. Thank you to all who participated and attended the Prepared Fair. Save the date for next year’s fair on Saturday, October 2, 2027. FireWise Zone 700 Committee: Sandy Graham, Kim Preston, Michele & Norm Dulleck. Assisting the Committee were Lucky Preston, Mark Schwind (our MC) and the Dam View FireWise community. 

REGION 9 RECOMMENDED PLANTS 

Recommended Fire-Resistant Plants for Zone 9

Groundcovers & Succulents

  • Ice Plant (Delosperma spp.) – Low‑growing succulent, spreads widely, excellent for rock gardens; fire‑resistant and thrives in Zones 5–10 Gardening Know How+11Proven Winners+11Homes and Gardens+11.
  • Sedum (Stonecrop) – Succulent groundcover ideal for fire‑safe green roofs or edging; hardy in Zones 3–8 (and many varieties suit Zone 9) Homes and Gardens+2Homes and Gardens+2.
  • White Stonecrop (Sedum album) & Goldmoss Stonecrop (Sedum acre) – Both succulent, low‑profile, drought‑tolerant, fire‑resistant groundcovers hardy through Zone 9 Homes and Gardens+2Southern Living+2.
  • Sempervivum calcareum (Hens & Chicks) – Compact succulent, good in fire‑prone areas, hardy through Zone 9 Homes and Gardens.
  • Creeping Thyme, Sweet Woodruff, Alliums, Yarrow, Salvia, Butterfly Weed, Coral Bells, Columbine, Daylily – Low‑combustion perennials with good moisture retention & pollinator benefits; many suitable for Zone 9 Proven Winners+14The Spruce+14Gardening Know How+14.

Perennials & Flowering Plants

  • Coneflower (Echinacea) – Drought‑tolerant, recovers quickly from fire, suitable Zones 4–8; likely OK in Zone 9 too Gardening Know How.
  • Coral Bells (Heuchera) – Compact, decorative foliage; low flammability, hardy through Zone 9 Proven Winners+2The Spruce+2.
  • Daylily (Hemerocallis) – Moist, grass‑like foliage retains water; zones 3–9 Proven Winners.
  • Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum) – Moist, creeping groundcover; less likely to ignite; Zones 4–8, but may still be viable Annies Annuals+13Proven Winners+13Civiclive+13.
  • Hosta – Shade perennials with thick, water‑retentive leaves; Zones 3–9 LawnStarter+1.
  • Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) – Herbaceous, retains moisture; Zones 5–9 OSU Extension Service.

Shrubs & Deciduous Trees

Native, Wide-Tolerance, & Fire-Rebounding Plants

  • Lupine, Columbine, Coreopsis, Milkweed, Foxglove, Euphorbia, Oenothera, Papavers (Poppies), Ratibida, Rudbeckia, Toyon, Coffeeberry, Agave, Yucca, Succulents & Cacti – Many of these are fire‑resistant and suitable in Zone 9, particularly drought‑tolerant natives or succulents Annies Annuals+1.

Resprouting After Fire

  • Physocarpus malvaceus (Mallow Ninebark) – Shrub native to western North America; survives and resprouts after fire—fire‑resistant Wikipedia.
  • Psathyrostachys juncea – Dense grass that protects buds and resprouts after fire; tolerates drought and fire; hardy in Zone 9 conditions OSU Extension Service+6Wikipedia+6Wikipedia+6.

Live Oak (Southern Live Oak, Quercus virginiana)

  • Southern Live Oak – Although evergreen, it resists damage during most fires, with crowns and roots often surviving—and sprouting back; excellent for Zone 9 coastal or southern gardens Wikipedia.

Summary Table – Zone 9 Fire-Resistant Plants

CategoryNotable Plants
Groundcovers/SucculentsIce Plant, Sedum species, Sempervivum, Creeping Thyme, etc.
Flowering PerennialsConeflower, Coral Bells, Daylily, Columbine, Yarrow, Salvia, etc.
HerbsChives, Dead Nettle
Shrubs & TreesRed Maple, Common Hackberry, Flowering Dogwood, White Alder
Native/Drought‑TolerantLupine, Milkweed, Coreopsis, Agave, Yucca, Toyon, Coffeeberry, etc.
Resilient ResproutersPhysocarpus malvaceus, Psathyrostachys juncea
Live OaksSouthern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

2026 FIRE-SAFE VENDOR LIST

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CAL-FIRE

CAL-FIRE SERVICES

CAL-FIRE SERVICES encompasses fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue, and fire prevention activities delivered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The agency also oversees vegetation management, prescribed fire, and defensible space education, helping communities strengthen wildfire resilience in alignment with FirewiseUSA recognition and local safety goals.

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Contact

  • Kelly Ridge Zone 700
  • Email me for a free Fire-wise property assessment
  •  +1-0
  •  I usually respond to your request within 24 hours.
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