Saratoga News

Saratoga Fire District warns homeowners of fire season

By Michelle Alaimo

With youngsters back in school and Labor Day just a memory, many may think that summer--and the fire season--is over. But Saratoga Fire District officials say the fire season is actually at its peak, and, because of El Niño, this year could be devastating.

The typical wildfire season starts in early September and runs to middle or late October, Capt. Steve Sporleder said. But El Niño's long rainy season left a large crop of dry weeds in its wake, according to Sporleder. In addition, Saratoga has not had any significant rainfall in months.

Residents--especially those in hillside areas--are encouraged to help make their property less prone to fire by giving themselves a clear space around homes, Sporleder said. This means creating a defensible space around the home or property, where firefighters would have room to try to stop a fire from reaching the house. Trees should also be pruned and dry grass and brush removed, Sporleder said.

Dead or dying pine trees should be removed, Chief Ernie Kraule said: "They are highly flammable."

Kraule said the district used to send out letters to homeowners, reminding them to fireproof their property, but stopped doing so a few years ago. "People in Saratoga are very conscious of fire," he said.

Now, Kraule said, the district performs drive-by field surveys year-round. He explained that the district would rather spend the time and effort to go out and survey land than send a letter. If a property is found to be a potential fire hazard, a letter is sent to the owners notifying them of steps to take to create a fire-safe area.

The SFD has been spared major wildfires in recent years, Sporleder said, adding that Saratoga has "had some potentially dangerous fires that were kept small and no structures were lost."

The last wildfire Sporleder can recall was a fire on Bohlman Road in 1996. But if a fire were to spark up in Saratoga, the district is part of the county's mutual-aid plan and can seek assistance from other fire districts when needed.

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