BRUSH FIRE PRECAUTIONS URGED AS EARLY SEASON FEARED.Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer As early wildfires destroyed homes and scorched scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. thousands of acres in San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. County, fire officials on Thursday urged Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, residents to clear brush and other debris ahead of a particularly dangerous fire season. Record rainfall this year has produced heavy undergrowth that is now drying out and becoming fuel for an early fire season. ``These fires confirm that the brush fire season is here, but we're at the very beginning,'' said Assistant Chief Rick Garcia of the Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. . ``The danger will continue all the way through December.'' Of particular concern to firefighters is the Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. weekend, when the use of illegal fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to can trigger brush fires. ``As the holiday approaches we will deploy extra resources to patrol for fires, particularly in the wild-land areas,'' Garcia said. The San Bernardino County fires in the desert east of Los Angeles burned at least six homes. A number of smaller brush fires broke out in the Antelope Valley on Thursday, but no serious damage was reported. Officials warned of danger through much of Los Angeles County and nearby areas. While large brush fires in the northern San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , Simi Valley and parts of Santa Clarita two years ago helped reduce vegetation, parts of the Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. in the city of Los Angeles
``We haven't had a real significant fire in the Santa Monica Mountains in a long time. We're looking at 30- to 40-year-old growth in some areas,'' Garcia said. Still, he said many homeowners in the Santa Monicas have been doing a good job clearing brush from around their homes. ``We inspect every parcel. ... I think the biggest thing we have going for us in brush clearance is that the citizens recognize how important it is,'' Garcia said. ``It's really come a long way over the last 10 or 15 years in Los Angeles.'' The Los Angeles Fire Department started brush clearance sweeps through hillside neighborhoods in April and will continue to look for potential problems through the fire season, Garcia said. Sometimes the brush grows back after it is cleared and has to be cleared again. More than 150,000 properties are being inspected in Los Angeles city and county this year for brush clearance, officials estimated. In the city of Los Angeles, failure to clear brush in accordance with inspection requirements can lead to a $242 fee upon the second inspection. If the brush is not cleared properly on the third inspection there can be another $242 inspection fee, plus a $314 administrative fee, and the Fire Department may have the brush cleared at the property owner's expense. Eric Leach, (805) 583-7602 eric.leach(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1) Mike McCormick of the county Fire Department points out proper brush clearance at a home in the Leona Valley. (2 -- 3) A variety of fireworks are shown, right, as officials warn residents of the Antelope Valley of the fire dangers to dry brush while, above, a hazard sign is posted in the valley. Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News |
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