DRIVEWAY REQUIREMENTS

In addition to requirements by the County, and/or Crooked River Ranch and the CC&R's, Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue would like you to pay particular attention to the following:

If your driveway is less than 150 feet long, the minimum driveway width is 14 feet.

If your driveway is 150 feet or more long, the minimum driveway width is 20 feet. We would like you to have one or more turnouts on the longer driveways. This gives us a place to stage our apparatus while leaving the driveway open for evacuation or access by other apparatus.

Obviously, the wider the driveway is, the easier it is for us to access it with our apparatus.

If possible, a circular driveway, or at least a 40' - 50' "all weather" - surfaced turn around area near your house, should be provided.

Your driveway must be covered with an "all weather" surface. (Gravel, asphalt, etc.)

ROCKS:

Please do not line your driveway with rocks! Although it is a convenient way to get rid of the rocks on your property, it can make it very difficult to maneuver our apparatus around, and may possibly cause damage to the apparatus. In the event of a fire, rocks cause a tripping hazard to firefighters, and make it extremely difficult to maneuver our hoses, as they get hung up on the rocks. In the wintertime, we may need to plow your driveway to gain access for our apparatus in an emergency. Rock lined driveways make this much more difficult!

TREES:

Please trim trees near your driveway! Most of our apparatus (ambulances, fire engines, etc.) are taller and less maneuverable than your vehicles. Overhanging branches obstruct access, and cause damage to the apparatus. Please trim up any branches that overhang your driveway to at least 10 feet above the driveway.

ARCHWAYS:

DO NOT build archways over your driveway that are lower than 15' tall at the lowest point, and not less than the minimum driveway width. It is imperative that we have plenty of overhead clearance for our apparatus and any neighboring Fire Departments' apparatus that may be assisting us.

GATES:

Gates should not be less than 12 feet wide. We would prefer that gates be a minimum of 16' wide, especially if the gate is placed near the roadway. It is very difficult for us to turn any of our apparatus thru a narrow gate placed near the roadway.

For information on the placement of your address sign, where to get an address sign, or how to replace an existing address sign, see Emergency Address Signs