By Mary O’KEEFE

Even though the winds in recent days have been calm, brush fires are an ongoing danger.

“The live fuel moisture is in the 60% [range]. Some may say that doesn’t sound too bad but it can go up to 300%,” said Captain Popp, Los Angeles County Fire Dept., Station 82.

The percentage can quickly rise to critical levels and fires can spread without being wind-driven. Fires can be fueled by vegetation and topography in many cases, like the Hansen Dam and Barham fires.

“The steeper the slope the faster the fire burns,” Popp said.

Los Angeles City Fire responded to the Getty Fire, a wind-driven fire, on Oct. 28 in the area west of Sepulveda Boulevard and the 405 Freeway near the Getty Museum. It burned 745 acres and was 100% contained on Nov. 5. The cause of the fire was deemed an accidental start caused by a tree branch that broke off and subsequently landed in nearby power lines due to high wind conditions, according to LA Fire officials.

LAFD responded to the Barham Fire on the afternoon of Nov. 9 at about 2 p.m. at 3694 N. Barham Blvd. According to LAFD, as of  Nov.11 the fire was at 95% containment surrounding the 80-acre area of torched earth. The remaining 5% around the perimeter is inaccessible due to treacherous terrain and the burn area had undergone extensive mop up.

LAFD, with assistance by the LA County Fire Dept., responded to the Hansen Dam Fire on Nov. 11 at 1 a.m. The fire was in a remote area of vegetation near Hansen Dam at 11798 W. Foothill Blvd. in Lake View Terrace. According to LAFD, the fire originated in an area that fire apparatus could not access and was a long journey by foot through heavy brush. First on-scene officers made a risk-versus-gain assessment. They decided, with the increased humidity (including fog, which precluded air support) and little to no wind in an area where no structures would be threatened, to leave park rangers to continue monitoring the situation overnight. LAFD returned the next morning.

The fire covered about three acres and is now contained. Luckily the winds have been mostly calm.

Traditionally the fire season in California lasts from October to February when the Santa Ana winds are more likely; however, in recent years, the fire season has extended to being year-round.

“We start ramping up in April,” Popp said.

He added that in June and July fire departments start seeing small fires and more significant sized fires occur when there is a wind-driven event.

“That’s when we get our big fires,” he added.

Fire has become a more common threat, especially to areas close to the Angeles National Forest like La Crescenta, Tujunga and La Cañada Flintridge.

“We live in such a fire prone area,” said Popp.

This is why the LACoFD focuses its educational outreach on its Ready! Set! Go! program.

“The major component of that is the ‘Ready,’” Popp said. “Obviously we want [residents] to clear brush from their home [but] to also be ready [to go] at a moment’s notice.”

Evacuations can issued with little warning, especially when there are wind-driven fires. Popp said it is important for residents to have all of their important documents, any photos they want to protect, and whatever else they need, saved in a spot where they can quickly grab and go.

“Getting a good plan together doesn’t take long,” he said.

Residents should talk to their family to make certain they have a place where they can gather if evacuated. Children should be told where to meet if they are evacuated from school before a parent can arrive to pick them up. Planning ahead and being organized helps in many ways especially in cases when there is no power and phones, including cellphones, are not working.

For more information on Ready! Set! Go! visit www.fire.lacounty.gov or visit any LA County Fire Station.

  Mary Okeefe