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Vegetation abatement topic of Fire Safe Council press conference

In an effort to keep Fallbrook unharmed, the Fallbrook Fire Safe Council held a press conference on September 12 announcing that Supervisor Bill Horn’s office had funded $10,000 to the new vegetation abatement project at the northern end of Macadamia Drive and Via Milpas. This money will be used to clear the dense, dead brush and create a 30-foot road fire break and 100-foot structure fire break.

“This is a very important and exciting day. The Supervisor knows the importance of this sort of abatement in protecting our communities from land fires and that is why he is such a big supporter,” said Courtney Berlin from Supervisor Horn’s office.

Additionally, the Fire Safe Council received a $75,000 grant from the Bureau of Land Management.

Following the Gavilan firestorm, the Hunt Research Corporation’s analysis of Fallbrook revealed a serious wild land threat in the Santa Margarita Valley. If a fire was to spark, and the wind conditions were against the community, the fire could make its way to downtown Fallbrook in a relatively short time.

“The Hunt Report identified these fuels as being over 100 years old and we know from fire research the flame lengths off of these fuels makes this type of fire virtually impossible to fight,” said Sid Morel, Division Fire Chief Marshal.

Morel explained the direct correlation between the fuel of the fire and the age of the fuel (brush). In this particular area, 90-foot flame lengths could very well be a dreadful reality. More than 80 percent of the brush is dead, creating a recipe for a disaster.

“[The vegetation abatement program] is a big step for proper defensible space for residences in this area,” stated Morel.

According to Morel, during a fire, crews come to a scene with a particular structure protection strategy. “They are looking for winners versus losers,” said Morel. Simply, if homes have a good defensible space with a minimum of 100 feet clearance, and proper vegetation around the residence, firefighters will protect the “winner” home. On the flip side, if a home does not have proper clearing and access, it more than likely will be labeled a “loser” structure.

Keeping Fallbrook fire safe takes teamwork. “We are doing the abatement with a grant that is going to help, but homeowners need to do their part as well,” advised Morel.

Fred Luevano, program manager for the weed abatement project and member of the Fallbrook Fire Safe Council, mentioned the clearance would take approximately three days. Southwest Fire Protection and Land Management has been hired to do the work and has chosen to use a Bobcat with a masticator attachment. This attachment muscles its way through the dense brush, instantly mulching what is before it.

Areas not reachable via the Bobcat will be done by hand.

The Fallbrook Fire Safe Council was organized in November 2002. It was formed “by several persons who lost their homes in the Gavilan Fire,” said councilmember Dorothy Roth.

The vegetation abatement program was a resounding success during the recent fire that occurred on Old River Road by Dentro de Las Lomas in Bonsall. “The fire came right up to the clearing and went out,” said John Buchanan, spokesperson for the North County Fire Department. Homes were saved in this fire because of the abatement program.

Pat Shea, a resident of the current vegetation site at Macadamia and Via Milpas, is relieved this program is transpiring. Since he moved to his home 14 years ago, the dense and dead brush has always been worrisome. “I think the abatement is great; I wish they could do more,” he said.

 

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