Fallbrook to get $10,000 of fire gel

The Fallbrook Fire Safe Council will be one of eight Fire Safe Councils in North County to receive $10,000 worth of fire-resistant gel after approval was granted on a request from Supervisor Bill Horn to provide $80,000 for Barricade Fire Gel to councils located at Palomar Mountain, Ranchita, Fallbrook, Warner Springs, Sunshine Summit, Greater Vista, Deer Springs, and Valley Center.

“I know that with this grant, North County residents will be better prepared for future wildfires,” said Horn.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 March 11, with Supervisor Ron Roberts absent, to allocate the funds to the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, which will purchase 290 home kits of fire-resistant gel and distribute the gel equally among the eight councils.

The supervisors’ approval also authorized a grant agreement with the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department establishing the terms for the receipt of the funds.

Each supervisor has a discretionary Community Projects budget which may be used for schools and non-profit organizations which provide services to county citizens and can also be used to supplement other county funding for specific county projects, although allocation of the funds requires approval of the Board of Supervisors.

Supervisor Bill Horn had previously provided District Five Community Projects funds to the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, which used the gel to create fire breaks and defend structures during the October 2007 Poomacha Fire.

“The damage on the mountain could have been a lot worse, but there was no loss of structures,” Horn said. “I think Palomar Mountain volunteers proved that the gel is invaluable.”

The fire-resistant gel was first used by a fire department in San Diego County during the Paradise Fire in October 2003, when the De Luz Volunteer Fire Department applied the gel to save homes in the Valley Center area.

The gel can be applied to equipment and vegetation as well as structures.

The goal of each Fire Safe Council is to provide fire safety education, encourage pre-fire management, host meetings, and encourage community participation in programs and activities.