There is a bit of liability that comes with that beautiful vacation cottage or fishing chalet you’ve been salivating over, and unfortunately protecting yourself often flies in the face of all the reasons you made the purchase.

“Nestled in the pine trees” is something from the fairy tales – and the ambiance and picturesque nature of your woodland fishing retreat is why it may kill you. All them pine trees and that isolating brush guarantees you may be a charcoal briquette.

California’s fire agencies recommend a “100 foot clearance” for all brush and timber around your structure. Naturally that won’t make the cottage photogenic, but if you are up fishing and a major fire erupts, you may not be defensible – and you may not get out.

The interface between Nature and civilization continues to creep ever outward; more buildings, more developments, more people – and not enough resources to keep them all safe – especially when they don’t take the precautions seriously.

MSNBC has posted an article describing the mounting losses of firefighters and the tough choices fire bosses have with their limited resources.

Too many people in the woods, and too few have cleared either brush or timber to give the firefighters a chance at a defensible space. Not a pleasant thought, but you may want to consider the maintenance required when you dream of retirement to some little trout stream, tucked in the woods.

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