Wildfires Archives | Page 5 of 6

Fire Season is Here

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on June 18, 2018 with No Comments

The recent local fires serve as a reminder of what it takes to defend properties in fire prone areas. Orange County has twice approved the Esperanza Hills project and residents with Protect Our Homes and Hills, under guidance from Hills For Everyone, have twice won in court. The project must be overturned a second time by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Yet, the Orange County Fire Authority assures us they can handle the 340 new houses from the project … Read More

Rotary Presentation Highlights Wildfires

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on March 13, 2018 with No Comments

Hills For Everyone was honored to have Melanie Schlotterbeck present to the Rotary Club of Brea on the wildfires in Chino Hills State Park. Thanks for the invitation and the opportunity to share our wildfire study.

The Risk versus the View

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on December 16, 2017 with No Comments

This article hits home. This is exactly why Hills For Everyone has been fighting projects in the hills in known wildfire corridors, including Madrona and Esperanza Hills. How much risk is one community supposed to take on and at what price? Read the Los Angeles Times article.

It’s a Planning Issue, Still.

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on December 14, 2017 with No Comments

Homes built to better standards can withstand fires better. However, even when they are built to better standards, the question remains: should we be putting people in harm’s way? It is a planning issue at the heart of the matter. No matter the fire-fighting resources you pour into stopping a fire’s progression, if it is wind-driven, it is a losing battle until the winds change (literally). Check out the Orange County Register article.

Great OpEd on Wildfires and Planning

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on December 7, 2017 with No Comments

Rick Halsey with the California Chaparral Institute writes a great OpEd on California wildfires. “As we do with earthquakes and floods, our goal should be to reduce the damage when wildfires arrive, not pretend we can prevent them from happening at all. That mindset starts at the planning department, not the fire station.” Check out the OpEd in the Los Angeles Times.