CAMPO FIRE DESTROYS STRUCTURE

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FIRE IN CAMPO BURNS A STRUCTURE

 

By Nadin Abbott

May 13, 2014 (Campo)--Santa Ana winds fanned  a structure fire in Campo into a brush fire that fueled a full wildland fire response. Wind drove the fire to jump across State Route 94,  from the south side of the freeway to the north side.

Reports on whether the burned structure was a trailer or shed were conflicting, nor was information provided on whether the structure had been occupied. In this poverty-stricken area, it is not unusual for people to be living in shacks, sheds and trailers.

Randy Surla, an area resident, defied the mandatory evacuation order. “I am staying put,” he explained. “This is the only house I have and I am going to protect it as best as I can.”

The fire reached his fence, coming perilously close to his home. “There were some bushes and a spark got to it,” he said. He added that his wife drove out and alerted the firefighters, who proceeded to “bulldoze it away. They saved my garage.” 

CAL FIRE Captain Kendal Bortisser said the agency “had air units in place for the structure threat.” An evacuation order was lifted around 2 p.m. 

Area resident Claudia Millerbragg e-mailed ECM during the blaze, “The helicopters are having to bypass Lake Morena, thanks to Todd Gloria,” a reference to then-Interim Mayor Gloria’s decision to drain Lake Morena down to less than 5% of capacity.

The fire was contained at about three acres.  It forced hard closures at both Shockey Truck Trail and La Posta Road.

Today’s fire started not far from the scene of the Shockey fire,  major event two years ago when high winds fueled that fire to swiftly engulf substantial acreage, causing loss of over 11 homes and killing a man.

Today has been a reminder of the season ahead of us—and of the importance of stopping fires while they are small, before wind-whipped flames can become an inferno. In addition to the Campo Fire, an earlier blaze in Duluzura was sparked by powerlines and tonight, a large fire in Rancho Bernardo and adjacent communities has now charred 850 acres.

Prevention is key, particularly at a time when resources may be stretched thin as high winds feed multiple fires amid a Red Flag Alert that continues through Tuesday.

Here is a CAL FIRE handout on how to prepare for wild fires:

http://www.readyforwildfire.org/docs/files/File/Ready%20Set%20Go%20Plan%2009_CALFIRE_sm.pdf

 

 

 


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