SOUNDING OFF:Prepare for ‘inevitable’ wildfire

Following the City Council meeting of June 19, in which the issue of the city’s fuel modification (“the goats”) was discussed, there have been questions raised about the program’s current status.

In 1990, the city initiated the use of goats as its primary means to accomplish fuel modification. That program continues today with 125 goats providing critically needed fuel modification to a large portion of our community.

The program focuses on the homes in the wildland urban interface and most vulnerable in a wildland fire event.

With the combination of frost damage, drought stress, and bug kill, our local vegetation will be a contributing factor to extreme fire behavior during a wildland fire. Add to this condition our local northeast wind patterns, and it highlights the need for our community’s collective wildland fire preparedness.

The city takes a holistic approach, recognizing that many factors contribute to the successful mitigation of a wildland fire. Fuel modification is one component of a broader system that uses the resources and talents of nearly every community and city service.

Recently, the fire department provided 1,800 homeowners on the interface zone a letter outlining the need to provide diligence in preparing their family and their home for the inevitable wildland fire. In addition, the Fire Department offered every one of those homeowners an individualized home inspection to collaboratively establish a plan for survival.

During these home inspections, members of the fire department reminded those citizens that the city has four fire engines and 12 firefighters on duty every day, and during the worst of fire conditions it takes one fire engine and three firefighters to protect one home.

Yes, the city will benefit from mutual aid resources; however, the time from request to arrival of units can take longer than the actual fire event.

The city, along with the fire department, works diligently to ensure your safety; however, the reality is that in certain events the homeowner will have to rely on his/her own preparation and planning.

The city will continue to maximize opportunities to enhance public safety, and we ask you to contribute by taking steps to prepare your family and property for a wildland fire.

Here are three things you can do this weekend:

The city and your Laguna firefighters will remain diligent in providing the professional public safety you expect.

The city’s goats are one component of a larger system designed to maximize community fire and life safety, and the goats will be spending their summer on our city’s hillsides.