Kensington Fire Safe

Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and his Policy and Communications Manager Brett Weise, met with residents on Saturday, May 8, 2021 to discuss the problem with the recurring homeless encampment fires. Brett Weise then wrote the following email to all attendees:

“Thank you all for meeting with Councilmember Elo-Rivera and I today in Kensington to discuss concerns regarding recent fires in the nearby canyons. Our office will be working in the following weeks to help address the underlying issues that led to these recent fires, including a build-up of dry vegetation and presence of encampments. I will be following up periodically with you all once I receive updates on these efforts.

We will also be advocating for additional resources for city staff to more proactively address fire-related issues during the budget process, which will be ongoing until the Fiscal Year 2022 budget is passed next month. You are able to provide your thoughts and recommendations for the City’s budget through our office’s survey linked here. The Fire-Rescue Department has provided a packet of information for homeowners as well, titled,“Ready, Set, Go”, which outlines steps that property owners can take to help protect their property in the event of a wildland fire. Given the layout of the community, some recommendations such as the ones for defensible space, may not be applicable, but this information may be helpful in protecting your home. This guide can be found by clicking this link here. Additionally, an informational video on brush management can be found here.“

From The Toni Times | May 2021 (State Senator Toni Atkins)

Last year’s fire season was the largest in California’s history, burning more than 4 million acres and devastating communities in diverse landscapes throughout the state. With another hot and dry fire season on the horizon, combined with a lack of rainfall and low snowpack, the state’s wildfire preparedness efforts are already underway. In partnership with the Assembly and the Governor, the Senate passed a groundbreaking $536 million wildfire package that enables the state to take urgent action to support wildfire suppression, improve forest health, and build resilience in communities to help protect Californians from catastrophic wildfires across the state. For every dollar we spend on wildfire prevention, our state saves $6 to $7 in damage.

This wildfire package will fund much needed programs and projects throughout the state, including here in the 39^th Senate District. San Diego residents will benefit from increased funding for home and structural hardening, grants for small farmers and rural landowners in East County for vegetation management, and fire prevention and management at state parks. Your local cities and the county will have information as soon as it is available for specific fire reduction programs. The package also includes a $12 million grant for the San Diego River Conservancy for on-the-ground wildfire-related investments. The conservancy has several projects that these funds will help implement, including projects to reduce fires, smoke, and protect natural landscapes and property.

The state is pursuing sustainable approaches to thinning California’s vulnerable landscapes, half of which will be funded under this landmark legislation. Furthermore, the state’s iBank will work collaboratively with other state agencies to accelerate the application process for to the Climate Catalyst Fund. The fund will provide loans, loan guarantees and other credit support to encourage private-sector innovations in technology, business models, and infrastructure and supply chains in woody biomass markets.

Here in San Diego County, we are no strangers to the devastating impacts of wildfires. In addition to the loss of homes and property, wildfires pollute our air so severely that even walking down the street can be dangerous for vulnerable populations. The impending challenges of this year’s fire season are daunting but together we can take action in our communities to help limit the spread of fires. Organizations like the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County have numerous resources for folks interested in making their homes and businesses more wildfire resilient, and for updates on local fires. I encourage all my constituents to consider how they can make their home or business more fire safe. Make sure your evacuation plan is current and that each member of your household or staff at work knows how to get to a safe location.

The large brush pile left behind from the 2019 Fairmount Canyon fire has been removed. KFS board VP Ken Burkhart took the lead in coordinating the removal with the San Diego Fire Department and San Diego Parks and Recreation. We are grateful to all of you for your GET IT DONE attitude and SO relieved that the dangerous, highly flammable, brush pile is gone. Fairmount Canyon is a safer place because of YOU.

Thank you, Alina Talbott, for sharing your photos of the 2019 Fairmont Canyon Fire.

Alina sent us the following: “Here are some photos of the 2019 Fairmont Canyon fire that were taken from our back yard. The final photo looking across Fairmont towards our home (the yellow, lowest one in the middle), shows we’ve done a ton of clearing for fire safety, and it takes the efforts of all Canyon homeowners to achieve fire safety for all.

On the day of the fire we prepared for evacuation, but what we weren’t prepared for was the gathering of people outside our home eager to see what was happening. 

I first had trouble reaching my house fast enough because of cars slowly trolling our street to find an advantage spot to watch the fire. The fire was just across Aldine and threatening an easy leap to our back yard if the wind shifted at all. My husband was inside trying to gather our valuables and animals by himself. We quickly realized we couldn’t safely pack our car with our valuables and leave it unattended as we went in for more because there were dozens of random people loitering out front. We were torn between having the car loaded with our “go gear and valuables” and possibly saving the home by hosing down the roof and backyard. We called on a nearby friend to stand guard at the car while we secured the yard and home. Randoms were actually trying to get through our yard (without permission) to get a better view of the fire behind us and take pictures. It was unsettling on so many levels. 

Another lesson I learned was that I cannot be trusted to pack reasonable attire in a “go bag” under stress. I’m really glad we didn’t actually end up displaced! We were very lucky. 

The next week I took dozens of “thank you” cookies to the local fire fighters that defended our homes.”

Happy Fire Safe New Year!

Kensington Fire Safe Soundbite #2-2021 – 2020 Annual Report

Under Beverly Barrett’s able direction and a team of conscientious volunteers, seven grant-funded, fire-fuel-filled (say that twice) dumpsters left our canyons a lot less dense this past October.  Then, after many years of tireless work, Bev passed the FSC virtual fire hose to us, Amy Dyson and Judy Harrington.  Here’s what we’ve been up to:

• Getting our feet on the ground:
  • Bev connected us to the FSC of SD County zooms to learn about other FSCs’s projects and fundraising and we won’t miss future ones –  way too valuable!
  • We also zoomed with FSC of SDC leadership to clarify how to stay an official FSC, like developing a “CWPP” – Community Wildfire Prevention Plan. It’s on our 2021 to do list.
  • We’ve contacted the San Diego Fire Rescue Department regarding zooming with our local Fire Station to learn more about how we can support them – date TBD.  
  • Meanwhile, we delivered a basket full of goodies donated by area residents and two boxes of fresh produce from Staley’s.   Firefighters were much appreciative and we really appreciated all the donations!
• Non-Profit Push
  • Based on these learnings and additional research, we decided to incorporate and seek non-profit tax status.  This will enhance our ability to secure additional grants and manage our finances. 
  • We formed a starting board of directors and re-named the organization “Kensington Fire Safe” (KFS) as one council incorporating the former five.  
  • Our filed Articles of Incorporation were approved December 5.  We’ve also set up an accounting system to keep track of all those grants we hope to secure.
  • We’ve written bylaws and a conflict of Interest policy, and our next step is applying for a non-profit Employer Identification Number.
• Communications…
  • Using our newly designed logo, we established our own website and social media presence: https://www.kensingtonfiresafe.org/   and https://www.facebook.com/kensingtonfiresafe. 
  • We published the first of these “Safety Soundbites” to keep you informed of our efforts and get community feedback.
  • Our resident surveys, announced through Nextdoor, were completed by 12 residents and provided some great ideas, as well as potential volunteers.  
• Projects: the tricky part…what to actually DO to increase safety!) 
  • #1 is continuing the October Dumpathon!  Survey says: THIS IS IMPORTANT!  Some suggested more dumpsters and/or twice a year – good possibilities if we can find ways to raise the funds. 
  • Also suggested: clearing the canyons of non-native palms and other fire-prone trees. Using helicopters, SD Canyonlands and the San Diego River Conservancy have done this in two urban canyons; very expensive. They hope to find funding for efforts in other canyons and Board member Ken Burkhart is staying in touch with them on our behalf.
  • Searchable FAQ:  One resident suggested developing a searchable list of well-thought-out, frequently-asked-questions and equally well-thought-out answers.  We’ll see if one already exists, and if not – any volunteers to help do this?

There are other good suggestions, but we’re hoping to get a few more responses, and then we’ll do a full report.  Please fill one out if you haven’t already: https://forms.gle/yNVVnuPRTpdHkDeN7. Meanwhile…thanks for everyone’s help so far!  If we keep it up, hopefully we can all look forward to a fire safe 2021!

We’ve been working for weeks collecting treats and goodies from our generous Kensington neighbors to fill up an enormous gift basket for our local fire fighters. Stehly’s Grocery generously donated two large boxes of fresh produce to add to the gift.

Last night we drove to the fire station to drop off the presents. Fire fighters DJ, Darrell and Neil were very happy and grateful to receive the gifts and were honestly moved by the gesture. Kensington Fire Safe members were pleased to find a way to honor our local heroes who do so much to protect our community.

We hope that this is a sweet start to a beautiful partnership between Fire Station 18 and Kensington Fire Safe! Kensington Fire Safe wants to thank Stehly’s Grocery, Martha and Rus Fuller, Bill and Nancy Bamberger, Janie and Dave Ellis, Judy and Bill Harrington, Brian and Amy Dyson, and so many other neighbors for their generosity.