By Mary-Justine Lanyon
It may have felt like spring – even summer – on the mountain lately but the calendar says it is still winter. What better time, then, for Noel Castillo, the director of the county’s Department of Public Works, to speak to the Lake Arrowhead Municipal Advisory Council about snow removal.
“We want to provide excellent customer service,” Castillo told the MAC members. “I am here to listen.”
He described snow removal as “a craft we take on. We want to hone that craft through continued training of staff.
“We need to make sure the roads are passable,” Castillo said, noting a priority is providing passable roads for emergency vehicles.
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, he added, “has been magnificent, providing the tools we need.” Following Snowmageddon, they provided $10 million in additional equipment.
“We are the third leg of the first responder stool – fire, law enforcement, public works,” Castillo said. “A lot of times we are the first ones in, last ones out.”
Acknowledging the berms that are usually left by the snowplows, Castillo said they and snow-packed roads “are part of the process, not a sign of inaction.” Berms, he said, are “unavoidable.”
Often, residents clear their driveways and get frustrated when a berm is left by the plow. “Be aware we will do two passes to make the road passable, as clear as possible. As we plow, you will have a berm you have to clear.” When pressed by Chair Steve Valentine, Castillo said that, yes, the berm is the resident’s responsibility.
“Isn’t there equipment that won’t leave a berm?” asked MAC member Jenny Hueter. Castillo responded he wasn’t aware of any. “We are trying to get as many roads cleared as possible. We want our people to be trained, consistent. The way they angle their blade can determine how much snow stacks up.”
Castillo suggested residents take a photo of a neighbor’s driveway with a smaller berm and send it to Public Works. “We can work on honing that craft.”
He added that a lot of plow operators with years of experience have retired. “We have newer staff who need constant practice.”
He further suggested calling what he called the radio room – the dispatch center – with any concerns: (909) 387-8063.
Preparedness and snow removal information is available on the Public Works website: dpw.sbcounty.gov.
Captain Craig Harris of the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station told Castillo he appreciates all he and his team do. “You do a great job out there,” the captain said.
During the month of February, Captain Harris said, the station had just under 1,400 calls for service; they took 108 reports and made 33 arrests.
During the sole snowstorm so far this winter, they conducted two search and rescue missions. Just north of Fawnskin, there were 10 people stuck while four-wheeling. They spent the night out there with young children; fortunately, they were dressed for the weather. They used the department’s Sno-Cat to rescue them. “Now they have to recover their vehicles,” he said, noting they rescue people, not vehicles.
The second mission was in the Green Valley Lake area where they rescued 13 people in five cars. The Aviation Division assisted, hoisting five people out. No one was hurt, Captain Harris noted.
They have started a deputy sheriff ride-along program for deputies working at the jail. “They get a taste of what patrol is like,” the captain said, adding they also do ride-alongs with community members. “We encourage the community to come out with us,” he said. Those community members just have to fill out a form at the station.
Battalion Chief Jerren Grundy of County Fire said they have had 672 calls for service this year. He noted there have “not been many significant calls recently.” They performed multiple Sno-Cat rescues during the storm and responded to multiple trees and power lines down with homes damaged.
Assistant Chief Jason Serrano thanked Chief Grundy “for making sure we stay engaged with the community.” He was proud to announce that 56 people had just graduated from the firefighter academy, adding they will get seven of them in the Mountain Division as probationers.
“I hope we are serving you well and communicating well,” Chief Serrano said.
When asked about a recent drowning, Chief Grundy said a man had gone to shovel snow off his dock. He was found in the water and transported to Mountains Community Hospital where he passed away.
Battalion Chief Erik Hofstetter of Cal Fire reported they have treated 10 acres at Heaps Peak, creating 179 piles, which they had tried to burn but were shut down due to weather. “We started cutting on that project during Covid,” he said. “It’s a very complicated project but we got it down – it will be big protection.”
The bad news, Chief Hofstetter said, is that “everything is growing. What was cut two years ago is coming back.”
They are asking for the homeowners’ help in creating defensible space around their homes. Zone Zero is still a recommendation, the chief said. “If it rolls out, it will be for new construction,” he noted. It calls for nothing flammable or combustible from the structure out five feet.
“We’re asking everyone to keep their roofs clean. Cut tree limbs so they are not touching the ground. Remove ladder fuels to prevent any ground fire from getting up into the canopy,” Chief Hofstetter said.
“No two (fire) seasons have been the same,” he added. “Homeowners helping us with defensible space gives us a fighting chance. Once the winds start blowing, all bets are off.”
Lt. Isaiah Kee of the CHP said that, in 2025, they issued more than 5,000 citations on the mountain, 700 of which were for speeding. “We’re about saving lives, making sure the highways are safe,” he said. He was pleased to report that highway fatalities have steadily gone down on the mountain: from eight in 2022 to nine in 2023, four in 2024 and two in 2025. One of those was in Big Bear, the other was an OHV accident.
“I want to drive home the importance of our being out there, doing enforcement,” Lt. Kee said. Recognizing the increase in highway violence, he encouraged everyone to be patient and courteous.
“I say it time and time again,” Lt. Kee said.
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