After the rains, fire fuels abound and residents need to reduce brush and dead vegetation from their houses.

By Mary O’KEEFE

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 30, 2018 there were 6,284 wildfires across California that destroyed a total of 876,147 acres. The combined CAL FIRE and U.S. Forest Service area had 7,571 fires that destroyed 1,671,203 acres, according to CAL FIRE.

Although Southern California has had numerous rainy days this year, it does not mean there is a reduced fire danger in our future – in fact it may be even more dangerous.

“We definitely had rain that brought on light, flashy fuels for the future,” said Glendale Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Jeff Ragusa, fire marshal for Glendale Vegetation Management.

All the flowers and other vegetation that are beautiful now will dry out over a long hot summer creating more fuel for fires.

“There are overgrown grasses and bougainvillea,” said Los Angeles County Firefighter Specialist Brian Stevens. “Since we have had great rains, we have had great growth and we have a ton of fire fuels.”

For that reason it is extremely important that all residents reduce flammable landscaping near their houses. Abatement notices have been sent to residents by Los Angeles County and Glendale fire departments.

“We have sent out notices,” Ragusa said. “We have sent out guidelines and started our vegetation management programs.”

The City of Glendale has one person in charge of vegetation management, which makes it easier for the department to follow the abatement progress in neighborhoods.

“That we have one person in charge of vegetation [management], having a single point of contact, allows our specialist to know the problem areas,” Ragusa said.

Having one person who knows all the areas of Glendale is also helpful.

LA County Fire personnel are also in neighborhoods helping to educate residents on fire prevention.

“We have a ‘hardening the home’ worksheet,” Stevens said. The worksheet provides information on key areas of a residence that need to be addressed in order to make it fire resistant. There is also a lot of information on how to protect against fire and what to do in case of fire in the department’s booklet “Ready, Set, Go.”

It is not only important for those residents who live near a wooded area to clear dead or dry vegetation around their house and on their roof, including from rain gutters, but all neighborhoods need to vigilant because fire can travel. 

“Embers can travel miles,” Stevens said. People are often surprised at how one home may have burned and another didn’t, he added.

Winds can pick up embers and carry them several miles to rooftops of structures and tree-lined areas.

When asked what is the number one thing residents can do to when a wildfire occurs, Ragusa answered, “Evacuate.”

“I would say 100% to pay attention to the evacuation orders,” he said.

Ragusa added if there is an order to evacuate it is important to follow those orders. When residents leave when asked, firefighters can quickly go into the area and do their job. It is always important to keep firefighters safe; however, they will risk their safety to save lives. When people evacuate when ordered, it allows firefighters to focus on keeping themselves safe and to protect property.

“We don’t make the decision to evacuate lightly,” Ragusa said.

Firefighters in Glendale and LA County have been part of multi-agency responses to several wildfires and have learned from those incidents how to approach future fires.

For more information, visit glendaleca.gov and search fire or www.fire.lacounty.gov or visit any local fire stations.

The City of Glendale Fire Dept. is hosting its fire service day on Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to
2 p.m. at Fire Station 21, 421 Oak St. in Glendale. The day will include live demonstrations and the chance to learn more about fire safety.

  Mary Okeefe