Many of us here were too busy watching the wildfires burning in
Southern California and Florida last week to notice the passing
of
”
Wildfire Awareness Week
”
in California on Friday.
Many of us here were too busy watching the wildfires burning in Southern California and Florida last week to notice the passing of “Wildfire Awareness Week” in California on Friday.
It seems like every week of the year and day of the month has its own special theme nowadays, but “Wildfire Awareness Week” passed with such little fanfare that many Hollisterites still haven’t done the basics to protect their property from wildfire.
As with most natural disasters, people often are lulled into a false sense of security, believing fire won’t threaten their homes until it’s right at the doorstep – far too late to do anything meaningful to stop the approaching flames. Experts say San Benito County is the driest it has been in years. The signs are apparent throughout the region: The normally green foothills have turned a dangerous shade of brown and the San Benito River looks like the Sahara. Elsewhere soil is cracking, small reservoirs are drying up and cattle are being shipped out months early.
As the searing summer heat dries the foliage throughout the summer months, it provides the perfect tinder for a simple spark to burst into a raging inferno.
Local officials are prudently urging property owners to clear brush from within 100 yards of homes and businesses and clean out gutters.
Authorities are also cautioning all those who use public lands to be careful about camping fires and off-roading. The undercarriage of that 4×4 can heat up and start a fire.
When it comes to wildfires, common sense goes a long way. Little things, such as putting out cigarettes in ashtrays instead of flicking them out the window and not leaving charcoal barbecues unattended on a windy day, can help prevent wildfires. Most wildfires, especially near urban areas, are caused by man, not nature.
Wildfires are a real threat this season and as many know, these blazes can be devastating to our families, our communities, our homes, our agriculture, and our animals.
Let’s not forget it was only in 2002, that the Croy fire scorched more than 33,000 acres and destroyed 34 homes in South Valley just north of Morgan Hill. Firefighters determined that blaze was caused by an unlikely suspect – an illegally installed solar panel unit in a country home. The total cost for the Croy Fire was about $9 million.
