SAN DIEGO -- A new report released by the governor's blue ribbon fire commission said more deadly fires are bound to happen in California unless politicians change the way they do business.

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The panel was put together to look into the October wildfires.

The report said heavy brush which fed fires around the county still exists, as well as policies that make it difficult to remove those fire fuels.

The fires that ravaged San Diego County last October killed 13 people and destroyed 2,400 homes.

Heavy brush in canyons helped feed the flames along with strong winds and low humidity.

San Diego Fire Chief Jeff Bowman said, "There is a perception that since we had the Cedar Fire we are out of the woods as far as problems go, and that's absolutely not true."

Bowman, a member of the blue ribbon fire commission, said the city is in grave danger of having another destructive fire season. Aerial maps showed more than 200 linear miles of homes in canyons with heavy brush and tree growth.

Fire agencies urged people to clear brush and trees around their homes for several hundred feet. But some city, county and state regulations forbid homeowners from cutting the growth without special permits.

Bowman said under the right conditions San Diego could experience even more devastating wildfires. He said the threat is higher than any other place in the state.

"I think San Diego has significantly higher risk of urban interphase type fires because of the way the county's laid out. The topography's different," Bowman said.

Bowman said the most exclusive neighborhoods in La Jolla are at greatest risk, because of dense growth around homes and steep terrain.

The report did not single out fuel management as the only problem. It also said there was confusion about when federal fire support should be called.

Commissioners also cited vacancies in key positions at the state Department of Forestry. They said staffing of fire engines should increase from three to four.

The panel said there should be better coordination between retardant tanker efforts and firefighters on the ground.

Bowman said fire agencies hope to sit down with environmental groups this summer and iron out a plan for thinning around homes. There are 33 different findings and 13 recommendations for improvements to future firefighting efforts.

Click here to review the report.