July 23,2003

Each year, we hear the predictions: "This year's fire season could be among the worst..." in fact, we hear them so often that we begin to grow deaf from the noise. And that is exactly the problem.

We all see it: dead and dying trees, brown grass and crisp tangled brush. Add to this, the forecast for warmer than normal temperatures and dry conditions and the potential for catastrophic fire is extremely high.

A rapidly spreading wildfire coupled with a lack of defensible space may result in structures burning simultaneously, much like an urban conflagration. In some areas--- particularly where residents have not cleared away dead trees and brush from their homes and maintained open, accessible roads&---structure protection may not be possible.

Where residents and landowners have not created defensible space, made their roads accessible and removed dead and dying trees, brush and grass, successful defense of the home will be unlikely. In such cases, the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department will not risk the lives of its firefighters to protect structures that, in all likelihood, cannot be saved but instead, will concentrate on ensuring that residents are removed from the area.

Regardless of whether you own a house or vacant land on Palomar Mountain, we need you to participate in reducing the threat of catastrophic fire. Dead trees, brush, and grass threaten everyone, no matter if it is on improved or vacant land. The threat of catastrophic fire to this community simply cannot be overstated.

For those of you who have not yet begun to clean the land that you own, it is not too late. Remove all dead and dying trees and brush and remove all live native brush that is within 30 feet of your home or your neighbor's home. Beyond 30 feet of your home or neighbor's home, again, remove anything that is dead and dying; thin the native brush by 50% and mow all native grass. Trim your trees to a height of at least 10 feet.

You have the commitment of the PMVFD that it will continue to seek solutions to the challenge of removing excessive vegetation from the community. Please, we need your commitment to modify the fuel . around your home and your neighbor's home, open your roads and remove the dead and dying trees, grass and brush.

Yours in promoting a fire-safe community,
Karl Bauer, Fire Chief, Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department
Bruce Graves, Chairman, Palomar Mountain Planning Organization