High Desert Chipping Program

2026

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CAL FIRE will be offering curbside chipping services starting October 2026 for Summit Valley. Other areas of the High Desert are pending.

There will be three monthly cycles.  The deadlines to register are

 

October 29th, December 3rd, December 31st

            for the Summit Valley community. 

 

Chipping will commence on Mondays November 2nd, December 7th and January 4th

​REVIEW ALL INFO AND SCROLL DOWN FOR REGISTRATION FORM

The following information is critical to demonstrate the homeowner and community’s efforts in creating defensible space.

The process for curbside chipping:
1. Property owner places slash (branches, small trees, etc) at their curb or roadside.
2. Property owner registers by the deadline for that month's cycle.
3. The day after the deadline MRFSC provides a list of properties to fire departments and code
enforcement.
4. CAL FIRE personnel then create the most efficient routes for their equipment and crews.

We never know where they will start or how long a cycle will take. Some people have a few branches; others have 50 ft long piles that are 3 feet high. CAL FIRE crews commit to complete their lists within three weeks. This isn't always possible depending on weather, the volume of properties and material.

Help us demonstrate the value of this free chipping service by completing the required chipping request form which provides us with documentation of community support creating defensible space.

 

Thank you for doing your part in making our communities more FIRE SAFE!

DO NOT COMPLETE THE FORM UNTIL THE MATERIAL IS READY AT THE CURB OR ROADSIDE.  CAL FIRE will not backtrack to chip your material if it is not ready when the crew arrives.
 
Instructions
You are required to answer the following questions on the form below to register your request for curbside chipping.  In addition to basic property and contact information, please provide:

Defensible Space Property Acres - refers to the total number of acres on your property.  
Examples Acres: (0.25) = quarter acre, (0.50) = half acre, (0.75) = three quarter acre, (1) = one acre.  Your best estimate is fine.

What shall the crews do with the chips - The crews can blow the chips back on your property from the street or leave the chips in a pile so you can move them to wherever you like.

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Program Criteria - failure to comply with the following criteria may result in your material not being chipped.

  - Material to be chipped must be on the property stacked along a road/driveway or an area allowing the chipping crew to work alongside the pile safely.  Crews must be able tor each the materials from the road.

 

   - PLEASE STACK THE LIMBS, BRANCHES AND TREES with all the cut ends the same way, preferably facing the street.  This significantly reduces the amount of time it takes to chip at each property. THE USE OF BACKHOES OR TRACTORS TO CREATE SLASH PILES FOR CHIPPING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THIS APPLIES TO ANY PILES THAT ARE CREATED BY PUSHING OR ROLLING TWIGS, BRANCHES AND DEBRIS.  PILES SO CREATED WILL BE BYPASSED.

   - NO root balls, limbs or tree trunks larger than 8 inches diameter, construction lumber, bagged material, pine needles, weeds, leaves, pine cones or loose bark, painted or preserved wood, trash, material containing rocks, dirt, metal, nails, screws, fasteners, wire or twine will be accepted. Limbs with pine needles or leaves are acceptable of course, we just cannot accept piles or bags of these items.

Property Owner Declaration
By submitting the form below, Participant declares that he/she is the owner of the property or an agent for the owner. Participant grants CAL FIRE, its personnel permission to access the property as needed for pile inspections, chipping services and monitoring.  Participant agrees to waive and release CAL FIRE and its employees, from all liability arising from participation in this program.

The information provided on the required form is used solely of generating fuel reduction stats. Participant acknowledges that the information provided is true and accurate to the best of his/her knowledge. Participant's personal contact information will not be shared beyond the scope of this project and will not be used for advertising.

Upon completion and successful submission, the form will serve as your official request for Curbside Chipping Service. You will receive an acknowledgement within 72 hours and an estimated window for when service should occur.

ALL QUESTIONS BELOW MUST BE ANSWERED FOR YOUR REQUEST TO BE CONSIDERED.
We must receive your request by 6:00pm PST on the designated deadline in order to include your property in the crew cycle immediately following the deadline date. If we do not receive your request in a timely manner, your material may not be addressed until the following month's cycle and you may be subject to citation under County ordinances. 

Please contact us via the Contact Page or by call Pilot Rock Fire Center (909) 338-2812 if you have any questions, or if you would prefer not to use the online form.
 
REQUEST FORM: If you do not receive a pop up message that your form has been submitted, review your answers.  All fields with an asterisk  "*" are required to be completed for the form to be processed.