ALPINE, Calif. (KGTV) — This year's exceptionally rainy season has brought green growth and bright blossoms to San Diego. But fire officials are warning the overgrowth could become a major fire hazard as temperatures heat up.
On Wednesday, ABC 10News caught up with Fire Marshal Jason McBroom with the Alpine Fire Protection District.
“We’ve had a significant amount of rainfall this season that has had a lot of grass crop. That grass crop mixed in with dead fuel is a recipe for disaster," said McBroom.
McBroom showed 10News the district's new chipper — a piece of technology in their arsenal in the proactive fight against wildfires.
“This chipper will take up to 12-inch diameter trees…and completely turn it into half inch chips," he said.
The goal of the chipper is to reduce flammable trees or brush into small chips that cannot fuel a wildfire.
McBroom says they've already made significant preventative progress in several Alpine neighborhoods thanks to the new chipper which was purchased with new grant money.
Alpine was one of thirteen fire safe councils in the county receiving a portion of nearly $400,000 in new funding to help prevent fires this year.
The grants were announced by the San Diego River Conservancy and the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation.
McBroom says fire agencies are asking homeowners to do their part by creating 'defensible space' around their properties now before it's too late.
"What we’re asking for homeowners to do is get out there on the weekends, weed whack the seasonal grasses down to 6 inches or less," he said.
The fire marshal says their chipping services in eligible neighborhoods are now offered to homeowners free of charge. All you need to do is register online.
You can learn more online here.
“Don’t wait until the fire is in the neighborhood," he said. "Defensible space in this instance…could make the difference of having a home to return to, or not.”
