Wildfires create call to action

In addition, there were 8,000 lightning strikes that set more than 800 wildfires across Northern California. San Bruno Mountain also saw some damage in 200 acres burned over the weekend and East Palo Alto had its own one-alarm blaze that surely did not contribute to the region’s air quality.

Though the Peninsula is fortunate with its moist air and winds over the Skyline ridge, Sunday’s mass blaze on the mountain was an indication that no place in Northern California is completely safe from wildfires. With the July 4 holiday coming next week and the dry season upon us, it is imperative we think about the impact we may have on our outside environment.

More often than not, many home owners in areas with rich vegetation don’t necessarily consider defensible space or other ways to prevent fires from spreading from home to home. There has yet to be a significant wildfire in San Mateo County for at least the last 10 years and that may be reason enough for residents to be complacent. Still, the Oakland fire of the mid-90s should give anyone pause when it comes to protecting what may be your significant asset — your house and home.

The smoke may have cleared yesterday as the winds picked up, but its mere presence should be an awakening to us to consider what we can each do to ensure our home’s ultimate safety — whether we live in the flatlands or the forested hills.

The fires in Napa and Solano counties, in addition to the number of wildfires here this weekend should serve as justification for fire officials to be ever diligent in protecting our homes and those of others while also reminding home owners of the importance of doing everything possible to prevent the spread of any type of wildfire.

Fire is part of our natural environment and forests and grasslands burned regularly before we were here, as our population grows, there is more chance of fires and there are less and less resources to fight them — particularly if our firefighters based here are helping other regions with larger fires. As the summer fire season begins, keep your property’s defensible space at 30 feet, trim trees to at least 10 feet from the house and following the the three Rs of defensible space — Remove dead plants, reduce live plants and replace plants with less flammable ones.

It may seem like a hassle, but it could save your home and those of your neighbors as the summer’s dry season approaches.