LAKESIDE FIRE CHIEF EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE
By Nadin Abbott
May 12, 2013 (Lakeside) Updated May 13, 2013—A fire that led to voluntary evacuations on Mapleview in Lakeside yesterday serves as an early warning of the difficult fire season forecast due to unusually dry conditions this year. According to Lakeside Fire Chief Andy Parr, the fire started at 3:40 p.m. and crews quickly mobilized. The fire started at the top of the hill and raced downhill towards the San Diego River.
“It is very dry, it was bigger and moved faster than they usually do at this time of the year,” Chief Parr told ECM. This is expected to be a very busy fire season and Chief Parr emphasized, “it is critical that residents have defensible space.”
At the top of the hill, one property stood out. (Photo, top left). The owner had cleared 100 feet of defensible space as recommended around the property, Chief Parr pointed out.
This buys time for firefighters, providing the important ground they need to make a stand. It is also critical that residents remove tree branches six feet from the ground, and Cal Fire also recommends you harden your home using fire-safe materials.
For more information on Fire service recommendations for creating defensible space, see: http://www.ReadyForWildfire.org
According to Chief Parr (photo, right), evacuations were voluntary, not mandatory. The Chief requests that if people plan to leave, they do so early in the incident, because they fire department is going to park vehicles in front of the property and will remain there for hours.
This fire was under a Unified command with crews from Lakeside, Heartland, Cal-Fire and Barona. Swift mobilization stopped the blaze at several acres.
According to the CHP, this fire started at a shooting range.
The fire created some tense moments for some residents, including Catherine Gorka, who owns a tropical bird breeding business and watched as smoke encroached on the hill behind her aviaries.
Kari Koch, standing 300 feet from where the fire started, told ECM the fire “never got close, but I was able to see the flames.” Her home was across the street, a property built by her grandfather, which has been improved over the years.
Ashli Hurst said that she“saw the flames from the rodeo grounds. It was kind of cool.”
That cool factor went away as she realized that it might be her friend’s house.