Firefighter warns about snakes, uncut brush

In his report to the Westlake City Council last week, Michael Dyer, acting assistant fire chief, warned local residents about confrontations with snakes and reminded everyone about weed abatement.

Dyer said that in springtime and early summer it’s common for snakes to stray away from their dens to seek prey so residents might find them in their backyards or worse.

"The big threat is for people who live on or near hillsides or open space areas. Often times a snake will be in their backyard or even go in the house if they want to get cool," Dyer said.

He said he’s even found snakes hiding in peculiar places inside homes.

"One of our firefighters got bit a few years back because a snake was hiding underneath a mattress,"

While it’s more common to find a snake in your front or backyard, Dyer warns residents not to take matters into their own hands.

"If you see snake, call 9-1-1 and let the fire department know whether the snake is inside or outside your home. They will come out with an engine company and get rid of the snake," Dyer said.

Dyer added that if a snake is inside a home, it’s considered an emergency and the fire department will proceed with lights and sirens activated to expedite the arrival.

"This would depend on the call. If it’s a life-threatening situation, we recommend that (residents) get out of the house until we get there. We send four people and they have to wear appropriate safety gear," Dyer said.

The fire department, he said, doesn’t have much training in killing snakes and usually carries a snake stick with them.

"I’ve done the dance with a snake on a driveway with a shovel in my hand. We exterminate them. We don’t try to catch them and release them," Dyer said.

In some cases, Dyer said, animal control is called and may come out and try to catch the snake.

Residents should be especially careful around small snakes.

"The little ones are the most dangerous," Dyer said. "They are the quickest and they give you a full shot of venom," he said.

Weed abatement underway

In February, homeowners received notices through the mail to expect inspections from the fire department checking on hazardous brush.

According to Dyer, this notice is meant to tell residents to get ready and start clearing their property.

If after the inspection, it’s determined that weed abatement hasn’t been done properly, the resident has 30 days to comply.

"We tell them to lollipop their heavier vegetation, so if they have grass underneath, the heat won’t start the other plants on fire as much. We want to reduce the fuel load around their homes to make it a defendable space in case of a wildfire," Dyer said.

Dyer said if residents don’t clear their own brush, a brush clearance unit will be called to clear it for them and the cost will be added to the resident’s property tax.

"It’s usually a lot more expensive than if they had had it done themselves. It’s the last resort, and we don’t like doing it," Dyer said.

According to Dyer, most residents comply and he has only written one citation in two years.

"Nine times out of 10, people will see what you are trying to do for them is positive and they will clear them," he said.