The best offense against fires is a good defense, say officials

The best offense against fires is a good defense, say officials|

As Smokey Bear famously observed, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.” And with wildfires carrying out a scorched earth policy around drought-withered California this summer, the adage holds true now more than ever.

It’s the peak of fire season, and making sure homes aren’t standing tinder boxes is one of Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority’s top priorities.

Spencer Andreis, battalion chief at SVFRA, said the most important thing a homeowner can do to ensure firefighters receive as few fire calls as possible is to create and maintain a defensible space starting at their driveway and leading to their house.

“We normally ask for 100 feet for a defensible space, but 200 to 300 goes a long way,” Andreis said.

A defensible space is a zone that’s clear of unwarranted fire hazards, such as un-mowed grass, weeds and tall, dry plants.

“We’re seeing a lot of brush fires out in the county and the state that are the result of high amounts of tinder and brush,” Andreis said.

By keeping the lawns cut and the area around the house clear, the risk of firefighters being unable to provide adequate support due to negligence on the owner’s part is significantly reduced.

“This isn’t just a one-time deal of mowing your lawn,” he said. “You have to keep at it.”

Andreis says that the areas in the Valley most at-risk for surprise brushfires are the Moon Mountain and Boyes Hot Springs areas – places where the highway connects to parcels with unkempt vegetation are prime spots for an accidental fire caused by a carelessly thrown cigarette.

Late rainfall in the middle of the drought actually contributes to high fire risks due to unexpected growth from grasses and weeds.

Without proper abatement, the additional growth could dry and die, leaving piles of flammable material ready for a spark to cause the next blaze. Andreis stresses that now, more than ever, is the time for vigilance.

Preventing fires is a much easier task than putting them out.

Across the state, Cal Fire’s interactive fire map shows wildfires sparking throughout California. The map has three metrics for fires: active fire, contained fire and lightning complex (started by a lightning strike, the source of most wildfires). While the majority of the incidents on the map say the fire is close to or at 100 percent containment, there were no “contained fire” markers on the map at press time.

Currently, nearly 11,000 firefighters are in the field fighting brushfires across the state. Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue has sent engines and personnel to fight fires in Lake and Humboldt counties to support local firefighting efforts against two of more than 75 wildfires in California this month.

Closest to the Sonoma Valley, the Rocky Fire, started on July 29 east of Clear Lake, has already consumed nearly 70,000 acres. Sonoma Battalion Chief Bob Norrbom and SVFRA firefighters were deployed to contain the blaze, with projections for full containment being hazy at best. During the fight, firefighters in the Valley have taken 36-hour shifts, continually at the ready to spring into action when needed.

Today, SVFRA remains fully staffed with 20 engines and nearly 100 personnel across the Valley.

“Can we safely and effectively mitigate fires right now? Yes we can,” said Andreis. “It is more important than ever that different departments from all over lean on each other and support other firefighters because it’s a group effort to keep the valley safe.”

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