There haven't been any major grass or brush fires in Saratoga so far this year. In fact, there haven't been any within the past five years, according to Saratoga Fire District Assistant Chief Ron Vega. But firefighters said they are ready to fight the flames if and when one does occur.

If they weren't responding to an actual call, firefighters from throughout the county were most likely out on the grassy hills of the Mountain Winery and Bohlman Road, cutting dry grass and watering down weeds as part of a weeklong, eight-hour-day wildland training program held in the first week of June. The training program is designed to give firefighters a chance to brush up on their wildfire abatement techniques before weather conditions intensify in September and October, when the moisture content in the air is at its lowest. It also allows firefighters from different departments to share strategies.

Under extreme heat and in full uniform, firefighters participated in exercises controlling simulated wildland fires, dousing grass with water from 50-pound, hose-containing backpacks strapped on their shoulders and using shovels and picks to turn a weed-laden area into a dirt-covered trail as a fire break.

Saratoga firefighter Jeremy Davis said that although the event was simulated, the training was realistic, given the weather conditions.

"The heat definitely plays on you," he said. "The work can get very fatiguing."

Crews also practiced using fire shelters, which are aluminum tent-like apparatuses used as a last resort for firefighters who are stuck in the field and caught in the blaze. With these shelters made of a lightweight material, firefighters seal themselves and wait for the fire to pass. This can take five to 10 minutes, but Capt. Don Olson from the Saratoga Fire District said it may feel like an eternity.

"It's an eerie experience," he said. "You can hear the fire crackling as it burns toward you and then a loud roar as it goes over your head."

Saratoga firefighter Paul Lellman said it's a piece of equipment he hopes he and the crew will never have to use.

"It gets extremely hot and claustrophobic inside the shelters," said Lellman. The smoke makes it difficult to breathe."

But Sunnyvale firefighter Marie Plonka offered a helpful tip. She said that burrowing a hole in the dirt and breathing through that air pocket is one way to beat the smoke because of the moisture in the soil.

If the event were real and if it were in an open grassy field like the Mountain Winery's, firefighters would isolate the fire by creating breaks that would prevent flames from spreading to other areas. The isolated fire would then consume itself and be extinguished.

Vega said that although the "potential for a fire happening in Saratoga is always present," the likelihood of a major grass or wildland fire breaking out is slim.

"Saratoga is not considered a high-risk area because there are not a lot of open grassy fields compared to other cities, like Los Altos and Santa Cruz," he said.

Vega explained that grassy and vegetated areas that face the south are more prone to fires due to greater sun exposure. The Mountain Winery's field is one, but officials said they do not consider it a threat because it does not contain a lot of fuel—grass, weeds and brushes—for a fire to spread. If one does occur, it would fade quickly. In contrast, fires on hilly areas with forestry, like the one on Bohlman Road, would spread slower due to dense and heavy trees.

Those who should be concerned are residents with properties in the hillside area. According to County Deputy Chief Dirk Mattern and Judy Saunders, who is the assistant fire marshal for the County Fire Marshal Office, programs are enforced to ensure fire prevention and protection. These programs include brush and weed abatement.

"The purpose of the brush abatement program is to create defensible space between a possible fire and the home," said Mattern. "It prevents the fire from jumping from one area to the actual property."

Under the requirements, residents must clear all brush within a minimum of 30 feet from the building, clear trees within 10 feet of chimneys and remove combustible debris such as loose leaves and pines from rooftops.

Notification letters were delivered to residents, who have the option of taking care of the situation themselves or having city contractors do it for them. In the second option, costs would be applied to property taxes in August.

Results from a 2003 inspection in Saratoga revealed that out of the 340 homes that were assessed, 23 were determined to have problems complying with the regulations.

Saunders added that on a county level, 5,000 properties were on the list for weed abatement inspection, of which 80 percent were in compliance.

"The community has been very cooperative in maintaining their properties," said Vega. "Residents in Saratoga are fire- and safety-conscious."

Along with weed abatement, Saunders said that there are a number of things residents or workers can do to decrease any risks. The first and most effective method is disking to dig through the dirt and churn the soil. Saunders said that the best time to do this is from March to May, when the soil is relatively soft and moist and before seeds germinate. Other methods, which pertain to more handwork, include weed whacking and flail mowing. According to Saunders, residents in other cities are starting to use goats as an alternative to get rid of brush.

Saunders said that it would cost approximately $575 per acre to have a contractor do the work.

For more information on wildland fire protection, call the Santa Clara County Fire District at 408.378.4010.