House Passes Fire Prevention Funds for Valley
The program will enable the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) to clear vegetation in areas that pose the greatest risk of wildfires and threat to life and property. The LAFD will collaborate with other agencies to survey high hazard areas, plan for vegetation trimming and removal, clear "laddering fuels" (the undergrowth that wildfires climb into the tree canopy), dense trees and thickets, and overgrowth of chaparral.
The funding was included in the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which was recently agreed upon by members of both the House and Senate. Passage by the Senate and a signature from President Obama are assured, according to Congressman Sherman.
"It is often said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this project is a good example," said Congressman Sherman. "The damage caused by the Station Fire could have been limited had we implemented more of these projects before the fire started. We need to learn from that experience."
The Station Fire burned more than 160,000 acres and caused in excess of $93,779,000 in damage. The fire damaged or destroyed 266 structures.
Last fall, three major wildfires ravaged the north San Fernando Valley in the City of Los Angeles burning over 30,000 acres and destroying or damaging over 750 structures, including nearly 500 mobile homes. The wildfires, which were declared a major federal disaster by the President, were fanned by seasonal Santa Ana winds and fueled by dry brush in the hillsides above heavily populated communities. All three North Valley fires, the Marek, Sesnon, and Sayre were in Congressman Sherman’s district.
Pre-disaster planning for wild fires could also potentially prevent mudslides and ground movement during the rain seasons.