County to study increasing controlled burns and other measures

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a recommendation from Fifth District Supervisor Bill Horn on May 14 to study the feasibility of more controlled or “prescribed” burns and clearing more fire breaks to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires.

Horn based his recommendation on results of a study by the University of California, Riverside (UCR). Maps from the study show five widespread areas of San Diego County that have the potential to explode into major wild fires.

“I’ve always been concerned about the threat of accumulated fuel in our region,” said Horn. “This study reinforced my belief that we need to be more proactive in clearing brush and other combustible natural fuels. We can do that with controlled burns and fire breaks. An ounce of prevention is better than a neighborhood of lost homes.”

Supervisor Horn praised the UCR study that showed how over the years, fires in Mexico have reduced large areas of fuel, thus eliminating the threat of catastrophic wildfires.

“While what has happened in Mexico is not fire management,” said Horn, “we can see what happens when areas are burned away. I think we can apply that principle in a controlled way for our county.”

Horn said that after presenting his ideas to federal, state and local agencies, all were in agreement that more controlled burns and added fire breaks are needed.

“What I’m calling for is exactly how fire fuel management is handled in Central and Northern California,” said Horn. “Because of our terrain and weather conditions, the fire threat in San Diego County is even greater.”

The recommendation asks the Chief Administrator Officer to return to the board within 90 days with a plan for comprehensive vegetation management that would include mechanical, biological and prescribed fire into the land management plans for all existing and future County owned lands and Multiple Species Conservation Program lands.