Fire Tanks for Mendocino County CA
Fire Tanks For Sale in Mendocino California
Mendocino County, CA is located on the north coast of California. It is part of the Emerald Triangle which consists of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity counties.
The population as of the 2020 census was 91,601.
Roughly one-third of its economy is based on the growth and harvest of marijuana.
One notable attraction is the Skunk Train which connects Fort Bragg with Willits. A steam-locomotive engine is one of many vehicles that run between Fort Bragg and Willits.
The county covers 3,506 square miles of land and 372 square miles of water creating a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities.
Cities in Mendocino County, CA include:
- Fort Bragg
- Point Arena
- Ukiah (county seat)
- Willits
Unincorporated communities
include:
- Branscomb
- Dos Rios
- Elk
- Gualala
- Inglenook
There are also several Indian reservations in the county that include:
- Coyote Valley Reservation
- Guidiville Rancheria
- Hopland Rancheria
- Laytonville Rancheria
- Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria
- Pinoleville Rancheria
- Redwood Valley Rancheria
- Round Valley Reservation (partly in Trinity County)
- Sherwood Valley Rancheria
Mendocino has been hit with wildfires in recent years. The most notable was:
- The Mendocino Complex Fire that burned 459,123 destroyed 280 structures, and burned for 160 days killing one and injuring three.
This fire that began from two separate incidents has many residents of Mendocino County realizing the need for water storage for fire protection and prevention. Another idea to reduce the total loss of structures is an exterior sprinkler system. It can help the residents’ homes or other buildings hold off catching fire until the firefighters can get the blaze under control.
It is clear that residents in Mendocino County should have a plan in place for wildfires. This requires an evacuation checklist, keeping your home and land free of combustible items, and landscaping should be kept at a certain height and plants spread out to make it harder for them to ignite and also controlled burns of your property to clean brush and grass that can easily ignite.
Obviously, there is nothing you can do about the wind but having fire protection tanks in Mendocino County can reduce your risk of total loss.
What Is a Fire Protection Tank
A fire protection tank is a large capacity tank that holds water for the prevention and protection of fire. This water can be used to spray your buildings to keep sparks from igniting the roof or wetting dry timber or grass along your property.
Depending on how you request the valves and connections your local fire department can hook their hoses to the water storage tank for fires. This tank should be clearly marked as a fire tank. In order to make sure your local fire department can connect call them to ask about the sizes of their connectors. Then you can ask specifically for that size.
Fire Tanks for both Commercial and Residential
Fire tanks for both commercial and residential come in various capacities ranging from 4,000 gallons to over 3 million gallons. For California, they must be NFPA 22 & NSF-61 compliant.
Fire tanks should be placed in a suitable area that allows the water when sprayed from the hose to reach buildings. If you have a large property it may be wise to put in two fire tanks.
When installing the above fire tank make sure the foundation is sound. You also want to be able to maneuver around the tank and hook up hoses.
How large of a capacity you will need depends on the size of the commercial or residential property. In rural areas away from the city or municipality water for firefighting, it may be best to use a larger sizer. You can probably speak to your local fire department to get an estimate of the size tank you should use for your property.
Water Storage Tanks in Mendocino CA
Water storage tanks in Mendocino, CA are needed for different reasons.
- Fire prevention protection
- Drinking water during drought
- Irrigation
- Water treatment
- Rain harvesting
- Storm water collection
That is just a few of the reasons both commercial and residential areas have for water storage.
The biggest one is fire protection during wildfire season. California in the past decade has been hit with more and more wildfires. The advantage of water storage tanks for fire is that it could save you from a complete loss of your structure(s) and land.
Local, County and State Fire Code Requirements for Water Tanks in CA
When installing fire tanks in California, you must follow all local, county, and state fire code requirements for the tank itself and its installation.
Mendocino County codes states like the state code that an adequate water supply be used for fire protection. You can also join or start a neighborhood fire watch for fire preparedness.
What are NFPA-22 Compliant Water Tanks?
In California all tanks must be NFPA-22 compliant. NFPA-22 is a standard for private fire protection tanks. It covers design, construction, installation, and maintenance of tanks and accessory equipment that supply water for private fire protection.
Steel Bolted or Poly Tanks Available for Fire protection in Mendocino County
Steel bolted or poly tanks are available for fire protection. Steel bolted tanks come in a variety of capacities starting at 4,000 gallons and going up to 2,868,000 gallons. Steel bolted tanks are an excellent choice for commercial use. They can also be used for residential use.
Poly tank capacities range from 300 gallons to as high as 15,500 gallons. These sizes are better suited to residential use.
Which should you use? That will depend on a couple of factors:
- Are you a commercial or residential site?
- How do you plan to use the water for irrigation, fire protection, or drinking water?
- How large of an area are you planning on covering for irrigation or fire protection?
- How many people and pets will be drinking the water if it is for drinking?
When choosing a tank you must consider all the factors because drinking water will require a different liner or coating than a fire protection tank or irrigation water tank.