The dangerous Santa Barbara County Jesusita wildfire has eaten more than 500 acres, 12 or more homes, and has burned three firefighters, now being treated at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. Firefighters were optimistic earlier today that the fire might lie down, as winds in the Santa Barbara area we light during the morning. Yet, within minutes of the wind kicking up this afternoon, the fire was on a tear, leaping up hillsides and tossing embers onto homes, resulting in complete destruction for a number of single family dwellings.
The Jesusita fire isn't anything special. It is certainly terrifying to anyone living in its path, but it represents a fairly typical wildfire. Unlike a typical structure fire, a wind-driven wildfire is not something that can be managed and contained in the same manner as most other fire emergencies. The wind acts as a conductor, playing its sinister music to which fire authorities can only react. The key for firefighters is to protect specific structures, and for the overall unified command to identify opportunities to get ahead of the fire, to prevent its ability to spread in various directions. But even the most savvy fire officer knows that given wind, heat, and other conditions, a wildfire can overrun any firebreak, protection line, or line of defense.
Here in Los Angeles, the memory of this past fall's destructive wildfires is a strong memory. More than 500 homes burned in the Sayre fire alone. And the Jesusita fire is a clear indication that the wildfire season, typically most evident in the fall, may already be here. That means a fire like the Jesusita fire could break out at any moment, with similar or worse consequences.
So, what's a neighborhood to do?
The simple answer is to get ahead of any disaster by planning and preparing yourself and your family. Get ready for a fire by following the guidelines set by the LAFD regarding defensible space. Defensible space means more than just clearing brush from your property. It means making certain that your home is built to the proper safety standards, that vents are covered, eaves are not filled with leaves or other combustibles, and the construction techniques used are appropriate to the neighborhood. You don't need to rebuild your home, but there are specific, important steps to take relative to protecting your property.
NOTE: Santa Barbara County Fire Officials said many of the homes lost in the Jesusita fire may not have had the required brush clearance, reducing their chance of survival.
Get Set to evacuate if the need arises by developing a proper emergency escape and evacuation plan. Practice it with your family, and most effectively at night. Turn your vehicle to face the street, get your pets prepared and have food and water for them. Have copies of all of your valuable documents in a portable firesafe container or safe. Have a disaster survival kit ready to go. Keep a portable radio or TV handy so you can keep track of events and know when it's time to leave.
Go when told to do so. Some homeowners are eager to stay at their property, believing only they can best protect it. While it may be true that many homes are lost not by the flames at the fire front, but by embers that fall onto a home nearby or even a mile away, staying may be a fatal decision. The biggest danger related to staying at your property involves the potential of you changing your mind. Should you decide to leave too late in the process, you put your life and the lives of those with you at extreme risk. As such, it's considered wise by many experts to heed the warnings of fire authorities and to leave early. Go to a relative's home, a hotel, or an evacuation center. Check in with your out of town relative on your emergency contact list. And keep in touch with what's happening on the fire ground via TV, radio, and the Web.
To learn more about wildfire and proper preparation, visit MySafe:LA, and keep in touch via the following resources:
NOTE: MySafe:LA is working on the development of a wildfire evacuation and preparation DVD and safety awareness program. You are invited to become a sponsor of the program. Your support could help save a life or someone's property. To learn how you can support the program, click here.
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