Ramona Residents Can Get Free Vegetation Chipping After Clearing

The Curbside Chipping Program returns to high-risk fire areas in Ramona.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County is bringing back its Curbside Chipping Program to eligible areas in Ramona, allowing residents to have their cleared vegetation chipped for free after completing required fire safety brush clearing around their homes. Residents must apply and have their work inspected before a contractor will come chip the materials.

Why it matters

Maintaining defensible space around homes is crucial for fire safety, but the resulting piles of vegetation can themselves become a fire hazard. The chipping program helps Ramona residents safely dispose of these materials and reduce secondary fire risks in high-risk communities.

The details

Through the Curbside Chipping Program, eligible Ramona residents can clear hazardous brush and vegetation within 100 feet of their homes, then stack or pile the materials according to guidelines. The Fire Safe Council will evaluate the work and send a chipper to the home to process the cleared vegetation. The chipped material is left on-site for residents to use or dispose of. The program is administered by the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County and funded by the Regional Resilience Grant Program.

  • The Curbside Chipping Program is returning in 2026.
  • There is currently no firm deadline to apply, but residents are encouraged not to wait.

The players

Fire Safe Council of San Diego County

A non-profit organization that partners with local agencies to promote fire safety and prevention.

Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County

The organization administering the Curbside Chipping Program.

Kristi Mansolf

President of the Ramona West End Fire Safe Council.

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What they’re saying

“Please note that they will not send a chipper out to your property until they have enough applications for an area.”

— Kristi Mansolf, President, Ramona West End Fire Safe Council (San Diego Union-Tribune)

What’s next

Residents in eligible Ramona areas should check the Fire Safe Council's website to see if their property qualifies, then submit an application to participate in the program.

The takeaway

The Curbside Chipping Program provides a valuable service to Ramona residents, helping them safely dispose of fire-prone vegetation and reduce secondary fire risks in their high-risk community.