Karen Devine’s I-Team Investigation “Fire Fright”

July 15, 2013 a forest fire erupts in our local mountains near the town of Idyllwild. A 16 day fire fight, more than 4000 responders working 24/7.

Starting on private property, some sort of electrical failure, the dry under-brush and dead trees creating excessive fuel. Summer heat and wind gusts keep the fire moving on a fast pace, 2 to 3 miles per hour.

The threat to life and property very real, more than 5000 residents ordered to evacuate. Idyllwild resident Ashley Stewart owned a restaurant at the time of the Mountain Fire. As the fire moved closer to town she remembers the day evacuation orders were issued. “It was devastating, the entire town was forced to move out.”

Remembering that challenging time, three Fire Chiefs representing Idyllwild Fire, CALFIRE and the San Jacinto Ranger District explaining the direction of the Mountain Fire, the threat to property and lives and why it was a group decision to issue evacuation orders.

“When we got together to make a decision to evacuate Idyllwild, not a small decision a big one, the decision was a group decision and it was signed off by all of the involved agencies, says CAL FIRE’s Chief John Hawkins.

“The fire department cannot do it by ourselves. If you take a look at any major fire it is all the agencies working in partnership together to make sure that people are safe and taken care of and that we’re preventing as much damage as possible,” says, Chief Patrick Reitz of Idyllwild Fire.

That partnership includes the Mountain Area Safety Task Force, a group that includes government agencies and civilians with the common goal of community safety. Sometimes all the preparation in the world can’t stop the fury of a fast burning forest fire.

In the case of the Mountain Fire, mother nature stepped in on day 6 dumping rain, slowing the flames, a relief to people living on the mountain and to fire fighters.

Fast forward three years and there hasn’t been enough rain or snow pack in our local mountains to relieve drought conditions. And although the Mountain Fire took out many trees and years of undergrowth, there are new threats looming that could be even more destructive.

“There’s a grass component that we haven’t had for the past few years. Our live fuel oils in the chapparel are about a month ahead of schedule in their drying,” says, Chief Freddie Espinoza, San Jacinto Ranger District.

Another enemy of the fire fighter, bark beetle infested trees. This video courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service shows an aerial view of dead tree clusters in the San Bernardino Mountains.

We have the same problem in the San Jacintos and San Bernardino National Forest. “Look around at the red pockets of trees. Those are beetle hit trees that are gonna die. Once they turn red, it’s too late, it’s over with,” says Hawkins.

All three Chiefs say their units are ready for any fire fight that comes their way. They all believe it’s a collective responsibility between mountain residents, County, State and Federal agencies to be prepared in case fire strikes.

When it comes to the Mountain Fire, all agree the management of the fire was a success. They did their job, no lives were lost.

“I am very proud of what we did from a common collected basis where we were all there together to make the right decision for the public. I live by two words, D & E. The public deserves and expects our very best service, nothing less,” says Hawkins.