Montecito Fire begins brush clearing and chipping in advance of wildfire threats

MONTECITO, Calif. - With the California wildfire season barely taking a break, the work is underway to clear brush in the Montecito hills as part of an annual program to reduce dangers.

This creates defensible space in case a fire breaks out.

The program began Monday and crews have been working to chip piles of tree limbs and shrubs cut back by residents and left by the roadside.

Neighborhoods are notified by mail and with roadside signs when their area will get the work.

Wildland Fire Specialist Maeve Juarez said, "they get a flyer about a month  and a half ahead of time and that gives them time to cut their vegetation and stack it and then we come through and pick up anything that is on the roadsides "

There are also rolloffs in place too. "Every neighborhood gets one or two dumpsters for anything that can't go through the chipper such as  succulents and vines, things like that."

The Montecito Fire Protection District also offers guidance to residents on trimming back vegetation. This creates safer routes along driveways and roadways. That helps residents evacuate in for emergency.

A retired veteran firefighter  with 30 years experience, Ron Wheat owns Eco Tree Works. He is running the chipping operation. The larger the load he says, the more benefits will come in the form of fire protections. "The bigger the pile the better. That means the homeowner is actually doing his part to help slow down the fires," said Wheat.

The work takes place over the course of 10-weeks.

"That is going to save our lives, its going to save homes life so I am in a pretty good spot  to know that prevention  what I do now,   is going to slow the fire down, " said Wheat.

Juarez says the effort is not just concentrated on the larger items. "A lot of fires are roadside starts so it is an important time for people to do their roadside weed whipping and that kind of goes in conjunction with the neighborhood chipping program."

Wheat says with this program if a fire breaks out, "it will keep it not going into the trees on the ground so we can actually lay down water and stop the movement of the fire."

The state has been hit with the worst fires in modern times,  and funding for prevention is a hot request from vulnerable districts.

"The money is there it is coming through the state," said Wheat. "It is the most I have seen in 30 years coming down to help the neighborhoods out."

After the program is done, the evidence of solid fire prevention is apparent. "You can absolutely see a difference as you drive around the neighborhood that the chipping program has come through the community."

More information can be found at : Neighborhood Chipping Map