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National Fire Plan Success Story

Homes Protected by Community Fuel Break
San Diego County, California
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction

Sunrise fuel break area after fuels treatement
Fuelbreak area after the fuels treatment.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced that Sunday, July 1 a fire in San Diego County was halted at a community fuel break, preventing loss of homes. The Banner Fire started just outside of Julian and was burning uphill towards the Whispering Pines community when residents were evacuated. Due to the strategic location of the Sunrise Fuel Break, aggressive air attack and many firefighters the fire was held at the fuel break and no homes were lost.

The Sunrise Fuel Break in Julian was originally constructed in the 1950s. In the past five years several large fires have threatened homes and other private property in and near Julian. The community responded, seeking to hasten efforts towards restoration of the fuel break. Through the cooperative efforts of BLM, the CAL FIRE San Diego Unit, the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (volunteer), and several Julian community Fire Safe Councils, portions of the project were completed in time to protect the Whispering Pines community.

The Sunrise Fuel Break was constructed on both public and private lands in a cooperative effort. BLM provided fuels crews, engines, dozers, and contracted masticators for the restoration. CAL FIRE was also able to provide engines, dozers and hand crews towards the completion of the project.

Other contributing factors to the successful containment of the blaze include Homeowner Defensible Space. The Fire Safe Council of Greater San Diego County allowed a standardized individual Homeowner Defensible Space. The BLM developed a Letter of Authorization for homeowners that allowed them to reduce combustible vegetation on BLM public lands within 100' of their homes. This area is commonly referred to as Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). County and State regulations have recently expanded the defensible space perimeter in WUI from 30' to 100' in response to previous loss of property.

The continued construction and on-going maintenance of this, and other fuel breaks, is a critical part of firefighting efforts to protect both private and public resources. Individual homeowner involvement is an integral part of protecting private property, as our natural resources exist in a fire adapted eco-system.

When local agencies initiate hazardous fuel reduction projects, homeowners can assist by completing their own fuel reduction on their property. Reduced fuels between community fuel breaks and homes will result in the successful protection of more homes in the future.

Contact: Jane Arteaga (916) 978-4436