The state is about to begin billing hundreds of thousands of residents living in wildfire prone areas a fee of up to $150 annually per residence for fire prevention efforts.  Advance notices of the fees will be sent to residents beginning Aug. 6, according to the California State Board of Equalization. The actual fees will be mailed beginning Aug. 13 in alphabetical order by county, with all the fees issued by December. Daniel Berlant, spokesman for the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said most property owners will pay $115 per habitable structure because their properties are covered by local fire districts. Only residents living outside those areas will pay the full $150.  Barns, woodsheds and outbuildings are not habitable structures and won't be assessed the fee. (more) Aug. 6, 2012 Bakersfield Californian

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