If there’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good, it must be the Santa Ana, which has in the past few years become the the most dreaded local weather condition.
It’s coming again.
The worst fires of the past two decades, including the Paradise Fire, which burned over 200 homes in Valley Center and killed two women, have happened in the latter part of October, when the dry land and dry brush were being lashed by even dryer devil winds that can fan the smallest spark into a fire storm that kills and leaves homeless.
Fire conditions are so severe that firefighters may in some instances have to allow houses to burn rather than risk death to try to save them.
As the fourth anniversary of the Paradise conflagration approaches, Valley Center Fire Chief Kevin O’Leary warned local residents to avoid an even more deadly condition: complacency.
“There is a belief that as fall period approaches, the occasional rainfall we get is a sign that all is well and the fire danger will drop in Southern California,” O’Leary told The Roadrunner.
But without torrential rainfall, “this is just not the case. Historically, September through November, and especially late October, is when we have experienced the largest fires in California history and especially in San Diego County.
“So what makes this year worse than the other years?
“First, we have had far less vegetation fires in the Valley Center area this year due to the lack of annual grasses and because people have been very careful. Accidental fires are started during normal life while operating vehicles, machinery, and tools, as well as carelessness with cigarettes and outside fires like barbecues and campfires.”
But high winds can cause power lines to fall, starting fires. When the relative humidity is up, and it was for much of this summer, there are very few of these accidental fires that grow large.
But, says O’Leary, “ When the relative humidity is down, like we have during an offshore flow or a Santa Ana, it takes only a spark or static electricity to start a fire. People forget about this and do not take the required precautions when the relative humidity drops below twenty-five percent.”
What other ingredients are needed for a fire? Besides topography, the wind is what spreads a fire and the fall is extremely windy. Winds become stronger, both onshore and offshore, as low pressure areas move onshore from the Pacific Ocean and high pressure areas replace the low pressure areas inland.
What makes this year different, according to O’Leary, is that live fuel moistures, the moisture in plants, are the lowest ever experienced in California.
The more moisture in a plant, the less likely it will burn rapidly.
“We have had little rain, the trees are stressed and dying, with many examples of dead pine trees all around Valley Center. The freeze killed many trees and complete canyons of brush were killed by the freezing temperatures. The lack of rain has caused the vegetation to die back by forty percent.”
Fire officials are very worried about the next months, saying it is matter of when, not if, a major fire occurs.
“Rapid ignition, spotting up to one half mile ahead of the fire front, and explosive fire behavior is what we are expecting this year beyond what we usually expect, which is bad to begin with,” he said.
“We can expect the fires to grow large unless we can get to them immediately, within minutes. If all fires occurred within three miles of a fire station, we would be able to catch most of these. Unfortunately, when these dire conditions are present in Southern California, many fires are happening at the same time and we are competing for fire engines, air tankers, helicopters, dozers, and hand crews.”
Firefighters have been trained to expect the worse.
“The tactics that normally work for us may not work,” explained O’Leary. “We may need to get out of harm's way, limiting our normal tactics of getting ahead of the fire, due to the explosive growth potential and greater flame lengths that will be present on most fires. The safety of the public and the firefighters is our first goal. The second is saving property under these dire conditions,” he said.
The public can help firefighters by clearing property during the early morning hours only, by preparing your family for immediate evacuations, and by using care each and every time you use or operate anything that could remotely cause a fire.
“Citizens must report smoke immediately and get to safety quickly. The chances of area ignition, where whole canyons and blocks of homes explode at once, are a possibility in these larger fires.
“Think about this before deciding to stay and protect your home. Your home and your possessions can be replaced. You of course, cannot be replaced,” he said.
Are you fed up with drivers taking curves too fast and coming across the double lines on our roads?
VC Lions are and to the point of putting up $700 to make people think about their driving habits.
The group recently lost a member, Tom Wadman, who was killed on June 26 while riding his motorcycle.
The club is running a special campaign to raise awareness to reduce speeding, unsafe passing and crossing over double lines. The winning slogan will be printed on bumper stickers which will be given out in the community (such as at their pancake breakfast, the next of which is Nov. 3 & 4 at Bates Nut Farm).
Winners will be chosen by the Lions Club and the best submission will receive $500 with $200 going to runner-up.
The contest runs from now until Nov. 10. The slogan must be seven words or less.
It is open to all VC residents.
Send your entry to VC Lions, POB 1997, Valley Center, 92082. PLEASE: original ideas only—no copycat borrowing! Include your name, address, age and phone number. Anyone under 18 needs parental signature of permission on entry. All entries become the property of the VC Lions. Entry must be original and to state such.
The VC Lions meet at 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of the month at VC Community Hall.
Valley Center High School this week is balancing the rollercoaster of emotions of Homecoming Spirit Week, with the celebration of life of one of its own, 14-year-old Kas Saunders, killed while riding his bike.
“We [the high school] brought in counselors from both the district office and middle school to help students who were in need of talking about Kas Saunders, on Monday,” Principal Ron McCowan told The Roadrunner. “Additionally, we put out poster paper and encouraged the students to write down positive messages or memories. This was done to help the students cope and reflect on the good things, as well as to share with the mother, Kim in promoting a healthy healing process.”
All across the campus, healing was evident. In the quad area, students wrote on the concrete in colored chalk messages to their friend with “hope that he could read it in heaven,” as one student explained.
One poem by a student named Natalie was entitled: Friend. Brief excerpts outlined the true meaning of friendship: “A friend to share secrets with...is there for you...to talk with...who believes in you, to say hi to and unfortunately to say good-bye to. Rest in peace my dear Kas.”
Every church in town was represented on campus last week for several days as clergy members came to support the process of acceptance.
“On Wednesday, we had scheduled Pink Day as part of the week long Homecoming celebration,” said McCowan. “In honor of Kas, we changed the day to Purple Day. Purple was his favorite color.”
During the lunch hour over 400 students and staff donned purple, held up high skateboards and posed for a group picture, with the intent of superimposing Kas's picture, as a gift to the family.
McCowan was one of the first ones on the scene of Sunday’s fatal crash, when Kas’s bike was hit by a motorist who was later booked by CHP for allegedly driving under the influence of a prescription drug.
During the photo shoot, Kim Saunders, Kas’s mother, showed up on campus. In an amazing show of strength, composure, and grace, she gave hugs, held hands and responded to those having a rough time with grief. One student presented Mrs. Saunders with a new purple T-shirt with Kas's picture on the front.
“I want the healing process to be positive. Kas (named after the mothers initials) lived life to the fullest," said the mother of her youngest of four boys.
“He doesn't want tears. We cannot stop emotion but we can celebrate all that was good in his life. Wear bright colors. He loved color and he laughed every single day of his life.”
She added, “Kas loved to tell jokes. He was very witty and had a sense of humor developed beyond his years.”
She asked that prayers and strength be given to Daniel Gonzalez, who was riding on his bike with Kas at the time of the accident, and her son Chase, who attends the high school. “I don't want their spirits dying because of this,” said Mrs. Saunders.
She wanted the extended family of the driver of the vehicle who hit Kas to know that she bore them no ill will.
“I would like the family to come to my home and not go into a depression. That would not be good for them and it would be even harder for me to know that they too were suffering in the negative. We all need healing and to pass a powerful message of hope.”
Posters with positive messages about Kas are everywhere in the Saunders home and on campus. There are cards in the counselor’s offices, chalk on the quad, purple flowers and live flowers on Kas’s desk.
The spirit of celebration of Kas’s life and Homecoming resonate in an extraordinary blend of balance between grief and of life moving forward.
“Kas, we will always love you and will keep a special place in our hearts for you—this Homecoming is a celebration for you, of all you are and everything you meant to so very many," a student named Sophia wrote on a poster.
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The family needs donations to help with unexpected costs. Send checks made payable to Ridgeview Church / Saunders Family, POB 2169, Valley Center 92082 or drop it off, in person, at California Bank and Trust, located on Valley Center Road. Questions? Call the church offices at 751-9890.
Taste local wine vintages and wrap your tonsils around some of the region’s best beers this Saturday, Oct. 13 at the second annual Rotary Wine and Beer Tasting at Woods Valley Golf Course, under the big white tent on the green.
The festivities run from 4–6:30 p.m.
You’ll be able to sample 19 different wines, one champagne and seven different kinds of beer from Stone Brewery, Gordon Biersch, Karl Strauss, all local breweries and restaurants.
Wines are donated by Wilson Creek Winery and Stuart Cellars.
Snacks will be professionally catered by Catering by Gena, who will serve homemade quiche, spinach artichoke dip, stuffed mushroom caps, meats, cheeses and meatballs. For desert, there will be a chocolate fountain and assorted cookies and cakes.
Live music will be provided during the affair by Marsi & Charles Carr. Roadrunner cartoonist Mark Brock will do caricatures.
Rita Steele and the VC high school orchestra will play as guests arrive.
Guests will be able to bid on silent auction items that include a golf cart, riding mower, trips to locations around the world, a Weber barbecue, massages, facials, baby blankets, home decor and more.
There will also be an opportunity drawing for a seven-day condo stay in Kauai, Hawaii.
The event will raise money for the Valley Center Rotary Club. Half of the proceeds will go back to the VC community in the form of high school scholarships and dictionary purchases for sixth graders. The other half will be contributed towards PolioPlus, a Rotary International program to eradicate polio worldwide.
Last year’s event raised $7,000 and this year’s organizers hope to raise $10,000.
The Rotary Club is still accepting donations for the auction, and sponsorships. If interested in either, or for more information, call Chelsea Good at at 638-6638 or email vcrotary@yahoo.com.
Tickets are $35/person. Buy tickets from any Rotary members, at The Roadrunner office, California Bank & Trust, Community Pharmacy, A-1 Irrigation or at the entrance.
Major sponsors are Valley View Casino, A-1 Irrigation, The Roadrunner and Liberty Mutual Insurance.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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