In trying to reflect on the Simi Valley Sandy Fire, we could think of nothing better than to publish, with permission, a letter sent to us by Debbie Bernard, the Firewise Leader for The Woodlands Firewise Community.
Our HOA, The Woodlands in Simi Valley, was battle tested this past week with the Sandy fire.
Fire encircled our subdivision of 294 homes and we are all incredibly grateful that not a single home was damaged or lost.
On the first day, Monday, fire was at the South end of our street. Fire trucks from Ventura County (where we live) along with Long Beach, LA County and other regions arrived.
Fire fighters battled the blaze; it was intense and frightening. All homes, in that particular area, were spared. Later in the day, fire trucks started leaving for redeployment to other Sandy fire areas. Homeowners returned, grateful to be back. We started clean up. Fire retardant was all over the place, on the hillsides, the streets, on houses, driveways, walkways. Those little pink speckles of heaven worked.
On Tuesday afternoon, the wind shifted and the fire returned with a vengeance. The next round was like nothing we’ve ever seen. Fire entered from the West.
This time, our home was one of a handful of homes in the direct path of the fire. Fire trucks returned and not just the ones from before, they brought an entire army of fire trucks, tractors, etc. Fire fighters started going door to door, entering backyards, checking on defensible space, positioning themselves for a much bigger fight.
We evacuated again and from our backyard camera we could see fire fighters standing in our backyard as flames came down the canyon. More fire retardant, a helicopter water drop on our back yard/house as well as on our neighbors. We all prayed for the best.
Then an hour later, we could see from our backyard camera that our home had been spared, barely. Singed plants and water dripping from the fence like rain, we were allowed access back to our home quickly so we could see the situation and the miracle for ourselves. The fire had been mere feet from our backyard which was against a canyon. By now, though, embers had spread to the East side of our subdivision and the hills on White Bark Lane were on fire. These homes were also miraculously spared.
As the flames approached our community, and the intensity and magnitude of the flames increased, it is more than apparent that prior preparation per Firewise principles, the construction of the homes, diligent brush clearance, along with the extreme skill and bravery of fire fighters, saved all of us and our homes.
I tell you all this very long story because as a Firewise Community and a Firewise leader, involvement in this program makes a difference.
There is no longer homeowner apathy toward fire and Firewise.
Prior to the fire, we had an upcoming June 2, Ready, Set, Go! meeting scheduled, which will continue as planned. Even though we all have first hand experience with the apps to alert us and we’ve evacuated, at least once, we can’t let our guard down on the
“Ready” of Ready, Set, Go!
The ready is the pre-work of home hardening and defensible space. The Sandy fire will now have us united in implementing Firewise at a deeper level and across more homes. Those that were previously apathetic have a new perspective.
I tell you all this very long story because as a Firewise Community and a Firewise leader, involvement in this program makes a difference. The fire fighter defending our home told us in person that we had done many things right; defensible space, home was constructed to withstand fire, we had upgraded our vents (thank you, Blaze Blockers!), no mulch. These things helped the fire fighters with their incredible work and made it safer for them to save us.
Thank you, Peter Fehler, for your workshop as an inspiration to keep going. Thank you, Gabe Albarian, for helping our HOA implement Firewise. Thank you Natasha Saxena, Regional Firewise Coordinator, Ventura Fire Safe Council, for your work and all the workshops and resources you put together. If there is anyone who wants to see what a battle tested, fire resilient community looks like, let me know. And for those Firewise leaders still walking up the down escalator, drive through our neighborhood. The charred hills are excellent inspiration.
– Debbie Bernard
Firewise Leader for The Woodlands
The photos below are a snapshot into what 294 homes survived.
With the exception of the community aerial shot, photos were all taken from Debbie’s backyard.
Below: CAL Fire Images
