By Gary Meyer

Two wildfires—one Saturday, June 23 in Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area (the Hill fire) to the east and another on Friday, June 29 on Wind Wolves Preserve (the Emigdio fire) near Pine Mountain to the west—served as bookend reminders for the Mountain Communities about how vital it is to keep properties cleared of fire hazards.

In June alone, five fires have threatened the area, all skirting the perimeter, from Ozena to Tejon Ranch, Hungry Valley to Wind Wolves, with another along the I-5. Falling embers from a fire as far as two miles away can destroy your home.

The Hill fire started in a Hungry Valley campground, with early unofficial reports indicating possible arson as the cause.

The blaze burned west into the Los Padres National Forest to just east of the Piru Creek area. Air tankers, helicopters and bulldozers were called quickly to prevent the fire from getting established in remote and rugged areas. Full containment was announced on Wednesday, June 28.

The Emigdio fire on Wind Wolves Preserve broke out the following week at about 11 a.m. on Friday, June 29, just a few miles north of Pine Mountain, moving west through steep, grassy terrain.

Naturalist David Schindler was leading a group of children on a hike when he saw the smoke and reported the fire.

According to fire officials, the head of the fire was stopped seven miles north of the Pine Mountain community as about 250 firefighters battled the blaze as it burned over 350 acres. Six air tankers, three helicopters, bulldozers and hand crews brought the fire under control.

Full containment of the Emigdio fire was announced Saturday at about 3:30 p.m.

The deadline to avoid fines for noncompliance with Kern County property clearance requirements has passed, but there is still time to protect your home by clearing your property of hazards.

See the Wildland Fire Action Guide in the June 1 edition of The Mountain Enterprise. You can pick up a copy at the newspaper office: 3341 Los Padres Drive, across from Ace Hardware.

This is part of the July 06, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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