RED CROSS WARNS OF FIRE THREAT.

With summer here after a long wet winter, the American Red Cross is reminding Southern Californians of the potential for record heat and the possibility of wildfire.

Heavy rainfall this winter has resulted in Southland mountains and deserts unusually green with lush grasses and brush.

Brush fires in the Joshua Tree National Park area were the first regional blazes this summer.

``Wildfires can happen quickly and without warning,'' said Peggy Brutsche, director of disaster services for the agency's Los Angeles chapter. ``These fires can change directions, sometimes trapping people who are not prepared.''

``Following important safety tips can help protect your family and your home,'' she said. ``The most important advice we can share is to ask everyone to be very careful with matches and smoking materials - make sure they are completely out and doused with water before discarding them.''

The Red Cross offers these wildfire preparedness tips:

Protect your home

Regularly clean roof and gutters.

Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them at least once a year. Keep the dampers in good working order. Equip chimneys and stovepipes with a spark arrester that meets the requirements of National Fire Protection Association Code 211. (Contact your local fire department for exact specifications.)

Use half-inch mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas and the home itself. Also, screen openings to floors, roof and attic.

Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.

Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools: a rake, ax, hand saw or chain saw, bucket and shovel.

Before wildfire threatens

Use fire-resistant or noncombustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of the dwelling, or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking, or trim with fire-retardant chemicals.

Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees.

Create a 30- to 100-foot safety zone around your home. Within this area, you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant heat.

Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation, including vegetation under structures and dispose of it properly.

Create a 15-foot space between tree crowns and remove limbs within 15 feet of the ground.

Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.

Prune tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.

Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.

Remove vines from the walls of your home.

Mow grass regularly.

Clear a 10-foot area around propane tanks and barbecues. Place a screen over the grill, using nonflammable material with mesh no coarser than one-quarter inch.

Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Clear combustible material within 20 feet. Use only approved wood-burning devices.

Plan your water needs

Identify and maintain an adequate outside water source such as a small pond, cistern, well, swimming pool or hydrant.

Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other structures on the property.

When wildfire threatens

If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area, listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the instructions of local officials.

Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. Leave the key in the ignition. Close garage windows and doors, but leave them unlocked. Disconnect automatic garage door openers.

Confine pets to one room. Make plans to care for your pets in case you must evacuate.

Arrange temporary housing at a friend's or relative's home outside the threatened area, or go to the nearest Red Cross shelter.

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Photo

PHOTO A Los Angeles County fire helicopter drops a load of water Thursday on a brush blaze sparked by a fallen power line in Canyon Country. The fire broke out at 9 a.m. when a city utility worker accidentally snapped the cable, igniting the brush and knocking out power in the area. The quarter-acre flare-up was doused after about an hour.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News