04.05.07
Fire Season Starting–Are You Ready?
A fire near Hesperia this weekend burned over 1,400 acres and caused the evacuation of about 200 homes.
A brush fire in the Las Flores Ranch area was estimated at 1,400 acres with five percent containment at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday. Despite that, officials believe it will be at full containment by 6 p.m. Sunday.
Mandatory evacuations were made for roughly 200 homes and 30 ranches, said San Bernardino County Fire Department spokeswoman Tracey Martinez. Everyone west of Arrowhead Lake Road from Hesperia Lakes south to the spillway is to evacuate. At 6 p.m. evacuations were ordered for everything south of Ranchero between Farmdale on the west and I Avenue on the east is also to evacuate, Martinez said.
Martinez said that at 10 p.m. Saturday the evacuation order will be lifted for those in the Ranchero Road area because headway has been made on the northern-most flank of the fire.
The early start to the fires caught many people by surprise.
First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt added that because this fire came so early in the year, several agencies were caught off guard.
“It’s not fire season yet, so we don’t have our standing army ready to fight,” Mitzelfelt said.
Mitzelfelt said that a fire information line has been established by the county that residents can call for updates. The number is (909) 355-8800.
Another fire on Friday burned about 150 acres in the Hollywood hills, causing fears that it could lead to a repeat of the Malibu fire of a few years ago.
If you have not yet done so, contact your local fire department for the local standards on fire prevention. Wherever you are, you should make sure that you have picked up and disposed of flamable debris and fluids on your property. You should clear the area around your home of weeds and brush for a distance of at least thirty feet (I believe short, well-watered grass is acceptable). In fact, clear off the tumbleweeds and other dry weeds all over your property.
Some areas offer burn permits for weeds. Check your local fire department for more information. If you must dispose of weeds in the trash, be sure to use the designated container. Your city is evaluated on how well its waste is separated, with fines possible for non-compliance. Suffice it to say that they may get testy if you have a large volume of mis-classified waste.
Be sure to follow all of the above as well for your business. Remember, if a widespread & destructive fire begins on your property and it is shown that you did not do your part to reduce the danger, you could be assessed fines. Preparation for undesirable events is a prudent course which could reduce your insurance premiums as well as reduce the amount of damage your business suffers.
