Fire Season Still Going Strong

The Los Angeles County Fire Department and Glendale Fire Department began May 1 inspecting homes that had earlier been sent a brush clearance/abatement notice. Three days later, the Valley Sun was invited on a ridealong with Captain Rob Salvucci, patrolman/firefighter Dan Koch, firefighter Mat Williams and engineer Arnold Anolin from County Fire Station 82, who selected some homes in La Cañada to inspect for compliance.

Firefighters are warning that because of dry conditions, this year's fire season will continue through the summer. Due to the recent high, dry winds, record-setting temperatures and lack of moisture, residents can expect more red flag warnings in and around Angeles National Forest.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, the National Weather Service released a fire "watch". By 4 p.m. that watch turned into a more serious red flag warning that continued until 9 p.m. Thursday.

These weather conditions have made lawns and hillsides dry and hazardous for fire. A few weeks ago, the fire department sent out notices to specific homeowners concerning brush clearing that is required by state law. The notices went out to hundreds of residents that have hillside property, requiring them to clear dried brush and hazardous fire areas.

"Most people are compliant," said Capt. Salvucci. "We are looking for flashy fuels."

Those flashy fuels are vegetation materials that ignite quickly and burn hot, such as dry brush or grass. This year, flashy fuels are very common due to the lack of rain and dry, hot weather conditions these past months — with more such weather on the horizon.

"We will inspect 10 to 12 homes a day," Salvucci said, "depending on how much [other] work we have to do."

As the firefighters walked around the homes, Koch pointed out areas that could be hazardous.

"We are just looking to see that the homeowner has attempted to clean the property," Salvucci said. "Dan is pointing out areas that could be a form of ladder fuel."

The term "ladder fuel" refers to anything that can lead the fire from one area to another. Koch pointed out low lying limbs on a tree, which can take the fire from the ground to the tree. Another area of concern is dried ground vegetation that can seemingly hide the fire beneath it as it follows the dry path.

"I've seen fire follow [the dried ground vegetation] for a long way," Koch said.