Ramona Battalion Chief Stresses Importance of Defensible Space

Following a July 16 special wildfire preparedness meeting with the community, Ramona Fire Department/Cal Fire Battalion Chief Burke Kremensky is stressing the importance of defensible space.

"I wanted to stress the most important topic — being prepared," Kremensky said in an email. "No matter what type of emergency, the community needs to be prepared. For instance, one of the most valuable things you can do before a wildfire is provide 100 feet of defensible space, protecting your home and providing safety."

The battalion chief said a study conducted after Australia’s Black Saturday Fires in 2009 — that killed 173 people and injured 414 — showed that "no amount of fuel reduction will guarantee that a house is safe," but clearing brush can drastically reduce the chances of your home from catching fire.

“We predicted that modifying several fuels could theoretically reduce house loss by 76–97 percent," the study said, according to Kremensky. 

The same study showed that clearing trees and shrubs within 131 feet was the most effective form of fuel reduction on Black Saturday, Kremensky said.

Did you miss out on the July 16 meeting in the Country Estates? Ramonans can get more information and education on preparing for emergencies at www.readysandiego.org.

Did you attend the meeting? What was the most helpful thing you learned? Tell us in the comments.