RANCHO SANTA FE — Chief Nick Pavone of the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department, and Fire Marshal Cliff Hunter gave an in-depth presentation recently covering lessons learned from last year’s Witch Creek Fire. On Aug. 19, more than 100 concerned residents attended the lecture at Morgan’s Run, which was sponsored by the Whispering Palms Community Council.

It’s been nearly a year since the Witch Creek Fire, which was named after the place the fire originated near Julian, destroyed more than 197,990 acres and 1,125 homes; another 499 homes or buildings were damaged. In Rancho Santa Fe, 6,000 acres were destroyed, 61 homes were lost and another 23 homes were damaged. Fortunately, here in Rancho Santa Fe there were no significant injuries to firefighters and no deaths to civilians. There were 2,800 firefighters assigned to the Witch Creek Fire and 40 of them were injured; two civilians were killed, both from the East County, when they attempted to evacuate their home too late.

“History repeats itself,” Pavone said. “Last year’s Witch Creek Fire was not unique. A similar fire happened back in 1940. The difference is there was not near the population and density back then.”

With fires raging in Northern California for the past two months and drought conditions prevailing in the southland once again, what was learned from last year’s fire and what can be done to prevent and prepare for the future?

“Our goal is to create heightened awareness,” Pavone said. After last year’s fire, damage assessment studies were conducted by the fire department to determine whether fires could have been avoided or hindered. According to Hunter, homes that were most vulnerable were those that had wood shake shingle roofs; wood siding; single pane windows; and landscaping that was within 30 feet of the house.

Only 2 percent of the homes built after 2004 were damaged. After a devastating fire in the area in 2003, a damage assessment study mandated changes to the fire codes for new buildings. Those changes helped new properties significantly during the Witch Creek Fire.



So what can residents do to better prepare? Pavone and Hunter offered several suggestions:

Replace wood shake shingle roofs. Pavone is hoping that grants will soon be available to help homeowners replace their wood shake shingles. “We’re hoping it will be a 50/50 situation where the homeowner pays half and the grant pays the other half,” Pavone said. He also said he hopes that information about the grants will be forthcoming shortly.

Keep vegetation 50 feet away from the house; make sure it is well irrigated and well maintained. “We aren’t saying not to landscape around your house, but be responsible,” Pavone said. Palm trees are a particular problem. Remove all dead palm fronds. Fronds are highly combustible and, according to Hunter, rats live in the fronds, they catch fire, jump from the palms and spread the fire.

In the event of a fire, evacuate early rather than later. “Evacuation (last year) was my worst nightmare,” Pavone said. He found that some people are realistic and others more difficult. Those that put off evacuation not only put themselves at risk, but others, such as firefighters, as well.

“Last year’s fire was a wakeup call.” Charlie Baker, speaking on behalf of the Whispering Palms Community Council, said. “Our job now is to prevent and prepare. And part of that job is to make sure our neighbors do their part.”

Homeowners interested in having the fire department come to their home and assess the fire risk, should contact Mike Scott at the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department at (858) 756-5971. Upon appointment, Scott will come to your home, review landscape plans and make assessments.