Benicians can clear their property of weeds, branches and other plant matter and take it to the city’s Corporation Yard at no cost Saturday and Sunday, Benicia Fire Chief Jim Lydon said.

The citywide Green Waste and Weed Abatement Cleanup Program is a collaboration of Benicia Fire Department and Republic Services, the company that picks up local trash and recyclables.

“This free annual program is for Benicia residents who need to clear their property of weeds and other vegetation,” Lydon said.

There are some limits to what can be taken to the Corporation Yard, he said.

Only green waste and vegetation will be accepted, and tree branch cuttings can be no larger than 4 inches in diameter. Palm branches won’t be accepted, he said.

The event is open only to Benicia residents, and is intended to be used by homeowners. Proof of residency must be shown to gain entry, and no commercial dumping is allowed, Lydon said.

The annual event has taken on a little more urgency since Gov. Jerry Brown declared the state is in a drought. Meanwhile, the State Water Project announced Friday that its clients, including Benicia, will receive only 5 percent of the water for which they had contracted.

As residents start cleaning up their yards and landscaping, Lydon asked them to be mindful of the CAL FIRE announcement that severe fire conditions are predicted for the state because of the drought.

“The lack of rainfall has resulted in drier than usual conditions that are ripe for easy ignition and fire spread,” Lydon said.

Between Jan. 1 and April 5, CAL FIRE responded to approximately 900 fires that charred nearly 2,400 acres, Lydon said, “well over double the seasonal average for this period.”

He said as residents clean their yards of plant matter in time for the Green Waste and Weed Abatement Cleanup Program, they also can help prepare the areas around their homes so firefighters could battle a threatening blaze more efficiently.

Among the tactics homeowners can use to reduce their homes’ vulnerability to fire is to clear all evergreen needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters, Lydon said.

They also can trim branches 6 feet from the ground and remove branches from roofs and within 10 feet of any chimneys.

Residents also can landscape with fire-resistant and drought-tolerant plants, he said.

There are other things a resident can do to reduce the chances of starting or encouraging a fire, Lydon said, such as “Use trimming, mowing and powered equipment before 10 a.m., and not on hot or windy days.” He also recommended keeping wood piles and flammable materials at least 30 feet from a home.

“Please keep in mind your safety, and the safety of people around you, when tackling yard work,” he advised.

He recommended residents use a weed trimmer instead of a mower to cut down dry weeds or grass. Power tools should be kept in proper working order, and gas-powered equipment shouldn’t have tanks topped off when the tools are hot, he said.

Before tackling yardwork, a resident should clear the area of rocks, he said, because “a rock hidden in grass or weeds is enough to start a fire when struck by a metal blade.”

He recommended that residents dress with safety in mind, wearing eye protection, gloves, sturdy boots, long pants and any protective gear recommended in their power tools’ owner’s manual.

While working, people should drink plenty of water and rest to avoid over-exertion, Lydon said.

The spring cleanup event at the Benicia Corporation Yard, 2400 East Second St., will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Those interested may contact the Benicia Fire Department, 707-746-4275.