Late-spring and early-summer rains have created extra growth and fire danger in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Residents should take heed of defensible space guidelines to protect their homes in the event of a wildfire.
“There is definitely a lot of vegetation growth,” said Zayante Fire Chief John Stipes. “At (the station), we had to cut it again because of the late rains.”
Already this year, Stipes’ crews responded to a small fire that was started by a tractor on Old Mount Road in the hills off East Zayante Road. A helicopter from the Cal Fire Alma Helitack Fire Station near Lexington Reservoir controlled the blaze, as it took 12 minutes for a fire truck to make it up to the rural part of the district.
In Scotts Valley, a recent quarter-acre fire was started by a piece of Plexiglas that magnified the sun’s light and heat onto some dry grass and brush at an unoccupied home.
“Ninety percent (of wildland fires) are not caused by Mother Nature,” Stipes said.
While Santa Cruz County has not yet been hit hard by wildfire in 2011, Santa Clara, just in the past several weeks, has had half a dozen small wildfires.
Stipes said his crew is always waiting for the next big blaze in the San Lorenzo Valley.
“It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when,” Stipes said, noting that the valley is perhaps more fire-prone than ever, as vegetation and brush have grown over the years.
Memories still linger from two major wildfires in Bonny Doon that drove many residents and their animals from their homes for days.
In June 2008, the Martin Fire that started on the Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve burned 525 acres in Bonny Doon. Then, in 2009, the Lockheed Fire scorched 7,817 acres over 11 days on the northern side of Bonny Doon.
The best thing to do to give a home or structure a fighting chance in the midst of a wild fire is to create a defensible space around it.
“There are three things we talk about in fire,” Stipes said. “Weather, topography and fuel. Homeowners can control the fuel.”
Crews from Cal Fire and local fire departments will visit homes to check out their defensible space at the request of homeowners. The inspections are aimed at educating homeowners and advising them on how to protect their homes. Contact local fire districts to schedule an appointment. For those in a Cal Fire service area, visit www.santacruzcountyfire.com.
The late rain and the warm summer weather mean fire season is just getting under way as grass and underbrush dry out.
“It’s just starting,” Stipes said. “We’re looking at going through October.”
Understanding defensible space
**Homeowners must create a 100-foot “defensible space” zone around their homes.
**All flammable vegetation within 30 feet of houses, sheds and all other structures should be cleared.
**Another 70 feet should be made into a reduced-fuel zone by spacing trees and plants apart from each other.
** All needles and leaves should be cleared from roofs, eaves and rain gutters.
**For information: www.fire.ca.gov or www.readyforwildfire.org
