Caltrans cleaning up its act

Caltrans announced a new brush clearance plan today along the 405 Freeway and other high-risk areas. The move comes after The Times' Duke Helfand reported on complaints from city fire officials that the road agency isn't clearing enough brush:

Caltrans’ compliance with the Los Angeles Fire Department’s brush- clearance requirements became an urgent issue because of the extremely dry conditions in the Southland, said Assemblyman Mike Feuer, a former Los Angeles councilman. The Southland is weathering its driest season on record, with only about 3.2 inches of rain in the metro area since July 1, with hot, dry weather conditions anticipated through the fall months. "I am pleased that Caltrans and LAFD are moving rapidly to keep our communities safe," said Feuer, D-Los Angeles. "Each agency has appointed a high level official to coordinate efforts to ensure that we succeed. Given the early onset of this year’s fire season, we have no time to waste ..." The joint operations plan will identify, prioritize and expedite the brush-removal projects, Feuer said. Several dozen workers will remove brush, weeds and overgrown vegetation from about 45 acres of fire-prone land along freeways running through the city. The "prioritized areas" include the Sepulveda Pass area of the San Diego (405) Freeway, where work has already begun. (CNS)