FIRE OFFICIALS ANTICIPATE BUSY SEASON, FEAR JULY 4 FIREWORKS.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - With fields sprouting grass and weeds twice as tall as normal and wildfires already breaking out most afternoons, Los Angeles Fire officials fear a long, busy fire season.

Heavy winter rains have created what firefighters calculate as a 30 percent increase in light, ``flashy'' vegetation - easily lit and quick-burning.

``We're definitely going to have more fires,'' said Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Mike McCormick. ``We're anticipating a very active season especially in the desert like the Antelope Valley as well as in the Santa Clarita area. Both areas have an incredible amount of tall grasses.''

Fire officials said they are worried about upcoming July 4 celebrations because of the high wildfire fire risk. ``Safe and Sane'' fireworks are legal in most of the city of Palmdale and Kern County, but nowhere else in the Antelope Valley.

Officials are working with builders in the new Anaverde master-plan community in southwest Palmdale to inform residents that fireworks, even the Safe and Sane kind, are illegal there.

Though the community is within Palmdale city limits, it is in an area where fireworks were banned by the city fireworks ordinance, based on state law. This will be the first July 4 that the area has homes.

Because of the fire danger, fire officials have halted the issuance of permits allowing Antelope Valley farmers to burn weeds.

Fire officials advised property owners to make sure to clear dry grass and brush away from buildings, which gives firefighters a spot to make a stand when flames are approaching.

``The brush clearance rules give firefighters a defensible space around the home so they can save your house,'' McCormick said.

BRUSH CLEARANCE TIPS

--Clear flammable vegetation within 30 feet of any structure, or within 50 feet of any structure in high hazard areas.

--Ornamental plants are acceptable as long as they do not easily transmit fire from native vegetation to the structure. High-hazard plants such as acacia, cedar, cypress, eucalyptus, juniper, pine or pampas grass should not be planted together.

--Wild brush should be cleared extending 100 feet away from structures. Homeowners in wildfire-prone areas such as Leona Valley, Green Valley and Elizabeth Lake should clear brush 200 feet.

--Trees taller than 18 feet should have branches cleared at least six feet above the ground. On trees shorter than that, branches should be cut to one third of the height.

--Clearly mark the house address so firefighters from out-of-area fire stations can direct additional units to the area during fires.

Source: Los Angeles County Fire Department 

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BRUSH CLEARANCE TIPS (see text)