By Mary-Justine Lanyon

“Be prepared” is the motto of the Boy Scouts of America. It was very fitting, therefore, that the Boy Scouts partnered with Cal Fire on July 1 to offer a wildfire preparedness fair to mountain homeowners.

Gabriel Arroyo and Michelle Palmer of Code Enforcement said inspections have begun to help achieve fire safety on local properties.

Unfortunately, the fair took place at the same time as the Jamboree Days parade and other festivities so attendance was sparse.

The six agencies that participated had a great deal of good advice for seasoned mountain residents as well as those new to the community.

Tim Long, the district executive with the local Boy Scouts of American council, said they had gotten a grant from Cal Fire. The purpose, he said, “is to educate communities in danger of the next wildfire – let the homeowners know about their part.”

Matt Bradley, from the County Fire Office of the Fire Marshal, stressed the importance of the homeowners’ part. He urges homeowners to “harden your home – close the eaves, install metal grating on top of the chimney, clear away brush.”

Volunteers with Team Rubicon – represented by Rachel, Manny and Ezra – have been clearing trees and brush on the mountain.

As it was the Fourth of July weekend, he also cautioned people to “leave the fireworks to the professionals.”

Code Enforcement, a department of the county’s Land Use Services, was present to let people know they have started inspections in Crestline and will be working their way across the mountain.

These inspections, noted Michelle Palmer, the senior officer for fire hazard abatement, and Code Enforcement officer Gabriel Arroyo, are not intended to punish homeowners but to help them make their property more fire safe.

Palmer agreed that the photos the inspectors have been taking of trees that need trimming have helped in the process.

Several members of Team Rubicon – Manny, Ezra and Rachel – were at the fair to share the work they have been doing on the mountain. This veteran-led volunteer disaster organization recently cleared ladder fuels and debris left by the winter storms from the property next to the Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church, where the fair was held.

“We work with the Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council,” Manny said, “to identify the areas in need of assistance.”

Team Rubicon, he added, “allows veterans to continue to serve. They miss the camaraderie when they leave the military. And they have a desire to give back to the community.”

The volunteers took care of a lot of damage from the storm. When they went to one property to remove a downed tree, they found 11 dead trees, which they also removed at no cost to the homeowner.

They were also up on the mountain during the storm, doing a lot of shoveling.

Cal Fire firefighters Gabriel Perez and Mariah Madueno and Captain Rocky Crounk are based at the Skyforest work station.

Three members of the Cal Fire team based at the Skyforest work station – firefighters Mariah Madueno and Gabriel Perez and Captain Rocky Crounk – were at the fair with an engine and an array of equipment they use in fighting fires and in clearing brush. They are also in the process of doing inspections on state responsibility area (SRA) properties.

Matt Bradley of County Fire’s Office of the Fire Marshal and CHP PIO Ubaldo Gonzalez.

Representing the CHP was Public Information Officer Ubaldo Gonzalez. The Arrowhead station, he reminds people, has child safety seats available and also has a certified inspector who will make sure those seats are properly installed in cars. He plans to offer an Age Well Drive Smart class soon for senior drivers.

For those who were unable to attend the fair and pick up the literature that was available, Long suggests they visit the website wildfireprep.org where they can take an online course, learn fire safety techniques and receive a certificate of completion.