Palm trees help spread fire in Yorba Linda

Michael Boyle, a battalion chief with the Orange County Fire Authority, said a major problem for firefighters Saturday in the Triangle fire was untrimmed palm trees.

“Palm trees are a huge problem," he said. "They have those fronds and they then turn into a roman candle and they produce a phenomenal amount of embers.”

Boyle said another problem has been ornamental vegetation surrounding homes.

On Saturday, he spoke with a homeowner who stayed to defend his home. When Boyle looked in a man’s backyard, he saw wood patio furniture against the mountainside.

“I told him to throw it in the swimming pool and he did. A few hours later the house was still standing.”

--Tami Abdollah

A storm of embers rains down from palm trees that caught fire in the Hollydale mobile home park on Carbon Canyon Road in Brea. Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mike Smith]

Cut the palm trees - every one in the region. Plant oak, walnut, and pecan.

[Rob McMillin]

Just a fantastic picture.