Orange County unveils ambitious brush-fire warning system, a year after devastating blaze

 

Orange County today will unveil an ambitious fire warning system designed to better alert residents to the danger of brush fires.

The new program, called OC Fire Watch, comes a year after the massive Freeway Complex fire swept through Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills, damaging or destroying more than 300 homes. At the time, fire officials said they wanted to work on ways to better alert residents to fast-moving brush fires.

As part of the program, government agencies around the county will raise red flags outside government buildings, parks and fire stations when the National Weather Service issues "red flag" fire warnings.

Additional, the county will create a volunteer program to help with fire warnings. Officials will train volunteers on communications procedures, map reading and how to report dangerous fire situations, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

“The memories of last year’s Freeway Complex fire and the Santiago fire two years ago still linger as  painful reminders of the devastation wildfires can inflict on our wilderness areas and nearby residential  communities,” Board of Supervisor Chair Patricia Bates said in a statement.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Aftermath of Freeway Complex fire in Yorba Linda. Credit: Al Schaben / Los Angeles Times

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Comments

[A good start]

O.K. Its a good start, but that's all.

[jack]

worst idea ever.

[t]

Who helped out with this idea?? The 1st graders of Travis Ranch??? For as horrible as this fire was, a better system should be thought of to protect people from serious danger. This isnt it.

[Ambitious?]

Ambitious? Flags, "think Eddie Izzard's "I have a flag"). That flag will tell people that the air is dry and it is windy? Volunteers? to do what? They will drive you crazy, largely unreliable because of their exaggerated view of themselves . Go study L.A. County Fire (but OCFA won't because it would be too humbling). Sure some people lost some truly indefensible homes deep within some poor access canyons at the Station fire but LACFD kept the fire out of La Canada, no small feat there. CALFIRE dropped tha ball on that one. OCFA needs to study the working tactics of other agencies and adopt some of them instead of thinking they are the bomb. Think about more wildland training for the urban fire-fighting team. They can easily keep a residential fire from spreading, but its the big ones they seem to fail at. LACFD already has the La Habra contract because of their interface acumen. After seeing this "ambitious" plan to raise flags and have volunteers drive around, will other OC cities be far behind? Not asking OCFA to be unsafe, no one should expect they give lives for property, but there could be tactical improvements other than flags. While at it have them put the surf condition flags at government building too, it could save me a drive to the beach.

[frank]

I live on the Brea end of Carbon Canyon. The fire came right through us. I see a headline " ambitious", but it seems a simple common sense plan, which is fine, but what about this idea would take a year to come up with, and on top of that be called "ambitious". Ambitious, and also couragous, were the fire fighters who stayed to protect our property, after being told not to stay and fight it, but did anyway. Carbon Canyon has been more succeptable for months now, than it was a year ago. They should have had a plan in motion last December, not a year later. Remember, this is still just a plan, not a working program in motion.

[TOMMY]

YUYU