Supervisor Bill Horn stated in a North County Times article today, that the county will not be able to lease the Super Scooper aircraft used last year so successfully. Aerial firefighting helps to slow down the spread of a wild land fire so firefighters on the ground can fully extinguish the flames. Without the aircraft dropping retardant on the fire, the fire will spread so rapidly the ground firefighters can’t keep up. As a result, the fire consumes acreage quickly and is more dangerous for everyone. www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/25/bn25fireplan-for-brush/?metro

www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/25/bn25fireplan-for-brush/?metro

Cal-Fire is contemplating not using a contracted DC-10 firefighting airplane. Their budget requires critical cuts. They’re hoping for a Federal Stimulus package boost. Cal-Fire is not the agency to cut back on. We need more firefighting resources here, not less.

I don’t know how many millions of dollars SDG&E spends to clean up after wildfires. There’s the lawsuits, hearings, and replacement of the poles and wires, and who knows what else. It seems to me that an ounce of prevention, though not free, is much better than the expensive cure. Sometimes, I think simplicity is just too simple to take seriously. Like this, if the brush around the poles and wires were fire retardant, they wouldn’t start a wildfire in the first place. As Fire-Pro USA’s clients are aware, treating vegetation with fire retardant is a simple process, and not expensive. Not only can the brush be made fire retardant, but the poles as well. I don’t know, call me a simpleton, but sometimes simple solutions really are just that.

The State is in trouble again, if we get another bad fire year.

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus…
And, No, You’re Home Doesn’t Have To Burn Down

There are only two reasons why homes in the wildland urban interface will be destroyed: the first is ignorance, the second is apathy. Wildfire structure loss researchers know beyond a doubt why homes burn. That being said, researchers also know how to prevent homes from burning– every home–not just cement or brick sided fortresses without windows. I mean the average stucco, wood sided, or other commonly built home.

In spite of the fire agencies’ call for greater “defensible space”, homes continue to be destroyed by the thousands. While defensible space is important, its not going to ensure a home doesn’t ignite during a wildland fire. Instead of just looking out towards the wildland, let’s turn around and look at making the structure itself a defensible space. After all, it is the home that we don’t want to burn down; the vegetation is the lesser of the problem.

Products exist in the marketplace today that will enhance a home’s survivability during a wildland fire, even without fire department intervention. Long-lasting fire retardants, ember-proof vents, and long-term fire retardants for vegetation are all available and reasonably priced. Of course, adequate brush clearance around the home is still equally important. But making the home itself a “defensible space” is ultimately the real goal. If you are going to stay and defend your home, or don’t have enough time to evacuate, a well-prepared home and well prepared occupants are the key to unlocking the door to prevent catastrophic losses during wildfires.

The population affected by wildland fires must be informed about the options available for making the home the defensible space as well as the brush cleared area. Ignorance must be replaced with education. The fire service has preached only half the sermon, they stop at brush clearance. The other half of the sermon is vital: make the home defensible. As for the apathetic, well, who cares?