By Mike Conrad, Aptos La Selva Fire Protection District
First, an update on the Wildland Fire season. Currently we have 17 active fires across the State. Since July 22, California has had one thousand and three wildland fires for a total of approximately 300,000 acres. 179 structures have been destroyed at current count and unfortunately, 101 firefighters have been injured with 2 firefighters making the ultimate sacrifice while protecting lives and property.
Santa Cruz County has sent out our Type III strike team three times to assist with fires across the state. It was sent to the Wragg Fire in the Napa area, Jerusalem Fire in the Napa area, Lowell Fire in the Placer area, and the Humboldt area as well as the Mendocino area. In total, they have been out about 3 weeks. Currently the strike team is in San Luis Obispo at the Cuesta fire helping protect homes and contain the fire.
Crews are on a maximum 14 day work cycle when out of county. They will work 24 hours and then have 24 hours off and are required to have a rest period before they travel home. Most of the time they are released from an incident before the 14 days are up and sent home. A new crew will respond to the next request.
Locally we have been fortunate so far and not had any significant fires; however, our peak time for wildland fires is still in front of us. September and October until the rainy season starts can bring about our most hazardous time for wildland fires. So please do not let your guard down yet we need to make it into the hopefully rainy season before we are out of the woods. Make sure your weeds are cut; vegetation has been removed from up against your house. Make sure you have that 100 feet clearance established to provide the defensible space that is so critical in helping us protect your home.
El Niño rains predicted
The winter of 1982 was a strong El Niño year. In early January, a storm rolled across Santa Cruz County, one of many that winter. This storm however was different, rain continued for three days and at one point it produced in excess of 25 inches of rain in just 36 hours. Homes were destroyed by mudslides and falling trees. A house fell into the Aptos Creek and floated down the now raging river and was destroyed when it hit the Spreckles Bridge. Tragically, twenty-two people lost their lives during this storm. No part of the county was spared, there were fatalities in Aptos, Soquel, Santa Cruz, Felton, Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond where the Love Creek slide claimed the lives of 10 people.
We all want and need rain but if the experts are correct and we have a major El Niño winter we may be faced with more rain than this poor dry earth can take. As we near the rainy months, I will be providing information to help us all deal safely with rain. Hopefully we get a good wetting rain with periods of sunshine between to give the ground a chance to soak up what it needs, recharge our underground aquifers and provide a slow steady runoff to fill our reservoir’s.
Stay Safe Calendar
During the next couple of months there will be several opportunities for you to learn more about what you can do to protect your family and homes.
Sunday, September 13 will be the 8th annual “Dangers in Paradise” a disaster preparedness fair. The event is held each year in conjunction with the 41st Ave. Home Depot Safety Fair and will be located in their front parking area. Come out learn about home safety and see your Community Emergency response Teams (CERT) go through their paces.
Sunday, October 11 will be the Aptos La Selva Fire Protection District’s open house. Come by meet representatives from all of the emergency response agencies; learn more about home safety and what resources are available to assist you in a time of need. It’s a great event for the entire family with food, soft drinks, and a bounce house for the kids (after they have filled in their safety passport).
Tuesday, October 13 the next CERT training class will start. This will be a 6-week training course starting on the 13th. Class runs from 6:30 pm to about 9:30 every Tuesday night ending November 17. Call now to reserve your spot, talk to your neighbors and bring a group. 831-685-6690
Please take advantage of at least one of these opportunities to increase your safety awareness so we are all as prepared as we can be no matter what Mother Nature has in store for us.
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For more information on what steps you can take to be better prepared for when disaster strikes contact your local fire department, or check out or web site at www.aptosfire.com