December, 2021
By David Shew and J. Lopez
Wildfire Defenseworks
For complete report, click HERE
Executive summary:
Over many decades, the wildfire environment in the Lower Arroyo has evolved into one that could potentially support a significant wildfire, resulting in catastrophic impacts to surrounding neighborhoods.
This report was requested by local residents and concerned citizens to focus on wildfire impacts, and maximize efforts to improve the natural landscape in the canyon.
It is not a question of whether a wildfire will occur, but only a question of when. Ultimately, the report presents the following conclusions and recommendations:
- Enact vegetation management plans that will begin to reduce the density of flammable vegetation, along with potential fire behavior and spread. These plans will also have the added benefit to remove non-native species in the Lower Arroyo, and create a more natural and fire resilient landscape.
- Establish a long-term maintenance plan to ensure the vegetation programs continue well into the future.
- Consider the development of a community wildfire protection plan.
- Provide a more robust education and information program for home hardening, defensible space efforts, and consider enforcing the immediate “home ignition zone” concept around homes with a non-combustible feature.
- Provide better understanding of wildfire impacts beyond just the areas in the Lower Arroyo and the west. The entire city will be impacted and must be prepared.
- Implement vegetation management measures and ordinances.
- Endorse and support of structure resiliency best practices for existing structures.
- Consider evacuation complications during high fire danger and high attendance event at the Rose Bowl.
- Consider a true wildfire cost from fire suppression to community, ecological and economic recovery.
The report’s objective is to help reduce potential wildfire impacts, return the waterway into a more natural habitat, and create a more fire resilient landscape for surrounding neighborhoods.
