That first dark cloud of smoke, rising up out of the lazy summer sky, sends panic into the mind of any Californian. We picture the orange colored flames licking the sky, with the ashy smoke hovering over our heads. We need only recall some of the major wildfires that have plagued Santa Clarita and its surrounding areas in the past years to remember that wildfires are a real and present threat to our community. Fire is never kind in enormous quantities, and it is not a force that should be taken for granted. Though our technology has increased abundantly in the last 100 years, we still lose many structures, homes, and tragically, people, to the raging California fires. We also have the unwelcome addition of the Santa Ana winds, which do serve a pleasant purpose on occasion, but during fire season only provoke the intensity of the flames. So what can we do about that?
Well, once the fire is really going, our window of opportunity for putting out the fire dwindles. Certainly, we are grateful for the tireless work of the firefighters during those perilous times, however we need to be personally responsible for our space. Everyone can partake in the task of making Santa Clarita fire safe. The key word here is “prevent”; it is important that parents and caregivers take the time to teach their children about fire safety and the danger of playing with matches. But unfortunately adults rather than children, more often than not, start wildfires. Lunatic arsonists aside, wildfires can be sparked accidentally by irresponsible use of yard equipment, such as a lawnmower or weedeater, or the discarding of cigarettes from the window of a car. Not only is it vital to create a defensible space around your house, home owners need to be careful whenever they are trying to clean up dry grass. If you have collected dry tree debris from around your yard, check and be sure it is a burn day before you light that bonfire. Even if it is a burn day, it’s not a bad idea to soak the ground or greenery near and around the fire spot with water to hopefully stop any spread of burning embers. Whenever flames are involved, take precautions. This is a legitimate reason why personal fireworks are banned in California; the sparks from the sparklers need to be constantly watched, which is why many cities (Santa Clarita included) host firework shows in a controlled setting. Let’s do our duty this summer and, as a community, help stamp out the threat of fire.
For more information on fire safety, get resources from www.fire.ca.gov/ .