Village News - Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Every year, before rain storms come, San Diego County officials promote the use of sand bags to limit the effects of flooding. This year, with much of Bonsall burned in the Lilac fire, the prediction of rain – usually welcome – brought manpower as well as sandbags to the area.

When rain was forecasted for Jan. 8 and 9, crews from North County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire sprung into action, delivering sand bags to Rancho Monserate County Club and placing them where needed to prevent flooding.

A county press release reminded residents that rates of erosion and runoff can increase when trees, shrubs, grasses and other groundcover are no longer growing on hillsides to soak up the rain and lessen the erosive potential of rainstorms.

For people living in and around the areas burned by the Lilac fire, the county opened an Erosion Control Homeowners Assistance Center at the County of San Diego Bonsall Road Station on Dec. 15. The center can be found on Sweetgrass Lane, adjacent to Riverview Church, off of State Route 76.

There residents will find sandbags, gravel bags, fiber rolls, and native seed mix available for free to help stabilize burned properties.

Brochures are also available showing how to properly install these items to reduce potential damages to property from soil erosion caused by rains at: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/flood/erosion-control-homeowners-assistance-center.

County officials expected the heaviest rain to arrive early Tuesday, Jan. 9, and anticipated it impacting the morning commute. As a result, San Diego County Fire activated a swiftwater rescue team that was positioned in the Ramona area before the storm hit so it would be available for immediate response to any portion of the county should the need arise.

In addition to the swiftwater rescue team, Cal Fire San Diego had hand crews available for flood fighting operations. San Diego County Fire and Cal Fire remind the public to avoid all flooded roads by identifying alternate routes of travel around low lying, flood prone areas prior to their need.

County Department of Public Works staff will be at the Erosion Control Homeowners Assistance Center to advise people about how to protect their homes Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Shane Gibson photo

Firefighters help fill thousands of sandbags at an Erosion Control Homeowners Assistance Center for people effected by the Lilac fire in Bonsall.

Staff will also be able to go to people's properties to visually inspect and offer advice about how best to protect structures. To schedule a property assessment, area residents can call (888) 846-0800.

For residents in Fallbrook, Rainbow and De Luzz, free sand and bags (just bring a shovel to fill the bags) are available at the locations listed below, around the clock although people should call ahead to check:

Sand and Bags

• De Luz: 39524 Daily Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028 P: (760) 728-3140 *(Not staffed 24/7)

• De Luz: 39431 De Luz Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028 P: (760) 728-2422

• Fallbrook: 4375 Pala Mesa Drive, Fallbrook, CA 92028 P: (760) 723-2024.

All residents can find information on how to prepare for the effects of flooding and floodwaters at http://www.readysandiego.org/flooding/

lmoramarco@reedermedia.com