The La Honda Voice

Are You Fire Safe? It's that time of year again...

by Mary Bordi

It's the dry time of year in California, and again and again we are reminded of the need for fire safety.  This year, with the lush growth from spring rains, it is especially important to be aware of the steps necessary to protect ourselves and our neighborhoods from the threat of wildfire.

Fire Safe San Mateo County is an organization created (quoting from their website) "to address the potential for serious loss of life and property in the urban/wildland intermix area (neighborhoods surrounded by dense vegetation)."

Does that sound like your neighborhood?

Member agencies of Fire Safe San Mateo County include various local fire departments/districts, San Mateo County Sheriff and Parks departments, several regional agencies and PG&E. Their mission is "to reduce hazardous vegetation, the creation of defensible space around structures, and the education of citizens regarding fire hazards and fire behavior through the guidance of local agencies." Some readers may be familiar with the Fire Safe sponsored Chipper Program, providing free chipping of vegetation removed by homeowners in some neighborhoods.

Fire Safe San Mateo County has a website with lots of downloadable information. The Living with Fire 2010 (pdf) guide is full of information that applies to us locally. From a list of useful local and regional weblinks and phone numbers to checklists and step by step instructions for creating a defensible space around your home, this colorful guide is easy to read and free. You will find suggestions for fire safe design if you are thinking ahead when creating your landscaping, and you will find tips for creating defensible space with the landscaping and/or natural terrain you already have.

As part of this guide, a checklist that can be torn out and posted in a convenient spot in your home, P.L.E.A.S.E. (Prepare Leave Early And Save Everyone), helps you plan ahead so you will be prepared in case of a fire.  In an emergency, the evacuation checklist will also help you to secure your property and to leave in a safe, systematic manner should you be ordered to do so.

Since this guide is a download you don't even have to "tear out" pages, you can simply print the ones you want to have handy as hard copy.

No one wants to be a victim of a wildfire. This guide will help you to mitigate the possible damage or avoid a fire altogether. Download the guide and keep the information handy. Being prepared is the key.

Crime Watch for May

Driver evades deputies, caught later

“A driver was speeding up and slowing…on Highway 84 near La Honda. San Mateo County Sheriff’s deputies flashed their sirens to pull over the car, but the driver didn’t stop at several pullouts along the road. The driver made an obscene gesture toward the deputies and turned onto Peek-a-Boo Lane and sped off to evade pursuit. ..At the end of the street, they saw the car parked at a home, and they knocked on the door. A man answered and told them that the car belonged to his daughter…She admitted to drinking at a La Honda bar prior to driving home. She was cited for evading police.”
( from May 13, 2010 by Mark Noack http://www.hmbreview.com/articles/2010/05/13/news/doc4beaf3773d0e8322900378.txt )

Three men arrested for single DUI

“San Mateo County Sheriff’s deputies at Apple Jack’s in La Honda reported being heckled by bar patrons…The law officers came out to the bar based on reports of a loud dirt bike blaring down the highway. When they found the bike owner, he admitted that he had been drinking and said he wouldn’t pass a Breathalyzer test. While deputies were questioning the motorcycle rider, other people at the bar reportedly began getting in the way… In the end, deputies took all three men to jail.”

( from May 13, 2010 by Mark Noack http://www.hmbreview.com/articles/2010/05/13/news/doc4beaf22e82d60908279539.txt )

Murder trial for La Honda camp escapee

“Two years ago in July, 16-year-old Adrian Sedano escaped from a remote San Mateo County-run juvenile probation camp in the wooded hills near La Honda. That wasn't an unusual occurrence at low-security Camp Glenwood, which had averaged about one walk-away case per month since 2006, according to a later grand jury report. But Sedano's departure became notable about a month later when he was arrested and accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Ramon Buenrostro in Redwood City…Since Sedano's arrest, probation officials say they have implemented more stringent screening of youths sent to the 49-year-old Camp Glenwood and instructed staff to intervene early when a juvenile shows signs of thinking escape. There have only been two or three walk-aways from the facility over the past year, said Chief Probation Officer Stuart Forrest, who was hired in April 2009…Less than two weeks after Buenrostro's death, the presiding judge of San Mateo County Superior Court ordered a three-month ban on sending youth offenders to Camp Glenwood until officials could improve security. County officials ultimately decided against building a $930,000 fence at the camp. The civil grand jury later backed that decision, saying a fence would "change the culture" of the honor camp…”

“Excerpted from a 5/1/10 article by Shawn Bishop, A Daily News Staff Writer at:   http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14996480?nclick_check=1“

 “All of a Sudden the Cow Popped Up”…DUI
“Prosecutors say a La Honda man driving on La Honda Road … was intoxicated when he slammed into a cow, wrecking his vehicle and leading to his arrest. David Hennigh 54, told authorities he was driving eastbound on State Route 84 shortly after midnight April 20 when he claimed, “all of a sudden the cow popped up,” said Assistant District Attorney Karen Guidotti. Officers responding to calls of the crash reported finding Hennigh inside a totaled car, alongside some hashish and marijuana. His blood alcohol content was .11, Guidotti said…Hennigh wasn’t injured in the collision but the fate of the cow is a little less clear. Guidotti said her office was not notified if the incident was fatal.”

(Excerpted from a San Mateo Journal article by Michelle Durand. The full article is here: http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=129784&title=Holy)

Woman in road stalls traffic on Highway 1

"San Mateo County Sheriff's deputies were contacted by a motorist who reported a disoriented woman standing in the middle of Highway 1 near the Point Montara Lighthouse. When deputies got there they found traffic stopped in both directions and a woman standing in the road. Deputies then saw a motorist exit his vehicle and drag the woman off the roadway to the east side shoulder. The motorist told deputies that the woman was extremely drunk. The 56-year-old La Honda woman began struggling violently and continued cursing and threatening the deputies. She reportedly told them she knew where they lived and was going to kill them. After being checked at an area hospital, she was taken to county jail."

From the police log ( http://www.hmbreview.com/articles/2007/06/11/news/police_log/story1.txt )

This summer’s wildfire season could be bad, so prepare now

The early indicators of this year’s Wildfire Season point to an increased potential even here on the Coastside. Fires have already sprung up through out the state and just last weekend a wildland fire broke out behind the SLAC property on Sand Hill Rd. in Menlo Park. As of early May the State/ Federal 2007 Fire Season Outlook was not promising. It predicts an earlier than normal fire season, increased fire activity due to reduced rainfall and freeze killed vegetation from last winters cold snap. It also warns of a possible strain on the state’s fire suppression resources due to the increased Wildfire threat in the Serria and southern part of the state.
 
To help you prepare for this season our Wildland Fuels Reduction Program has returned. This year’s program features a drop off site located near the intersection of Entrada and Ventura in Cuesta La Honda. This site can be used free of charge by any coastside resident to drop off woody fuels removed from their property in an effort to come into compliance with state laws or as a part of a Wildfire improvement project. The site will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through July 8. Fuels dropped off at this location will be periodically chipped up by state fire crews. Information of this program can be viewed at http://www.Lahondafire.org            
 
We have several tools to help you understand what you can do to make your home as firesafe as possible. The La Honda Fire Brigade has a free Video Lending Library with tapes that show what you can be done to safeguard your home. Two of the best internet sites on this subject are http://www.firewise.org and http://www.fire.ca.gov. You can also contact any of the areas Fire Stations where fire personnel will be happy to answer your questions. They can be reached as follows: La Honda Fire- 747-0381, Cal-Fire Skylonda 851-1860, Cal-Fire Pescadero 879-0121. (Cal-Fire is the new name for CDF and acts as the San Mateo County Fire Dept.) PLEASE REMEMBER TO DIAL 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES. Do not call the stations directly.
 
Wildfire is a part of this states ecology and you can be assured fires will burn this year and most likely homes will be lost. It’s everyone’s duty to help reduce this threat and now is the time to do it.
 
If the La Honda Fire Brigade can be of any assistance you can reach us at the number shown above or E-mail the Chief at Chief@Lahondafire.org

Larry Whitney
La Honda Fire Brigade

Argument Leads To Warrant Arrest In La Honda

From Half Moon Bay Review police log

( http://www.hmbreview.com/articles/2007/04/16/news/police_log/story1.txt )

On April 5, shortly after midnight, San Mateo County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a residence on La Honda Road in La Honda regarding an anonymous call complaining about a loud argument between several men. While the deputies were en route, there was also a 911 hang-up call from the address. When authorities arrived, they knocked on the door. One of the men, it turned out, had a warrant for his arrest. When deputies told the man about the warrant, he acknowledged it by saying, "Yeah, I knew it was coming."

Rain damage has made Highway 84 dangerous

[Note: the County has corrected the worst of the highway damage mentioned below as of this date. However, the road is still bumpy and the problem in this area of Highway 84 seems to be chronic]

by Larry Whitney on May 01, 06
"Two motorcycle injuries within a quarter mile and a couple of hours of one another demonstrate just how dangerous Highway 84 has become as a result of damage due to recent rains.

At 10:30am Sunday, the La Honda Fire Brigade was dispatched to a motorcycle accident at 11895 Highway 84. This single rider accident resulted in major injuries and the rider was transported by helicopter to Stanford Hospital. As La Honda Fire units were returning to their station, they happened upon a second major injury motorcycle accident not more than a quarter mile away from the first. This rider was also sent by air ambulance to Stanford Hospital.

The La Honda Fire Department warns that motorcycle riders should be particularly cautious in the area of Highway 84 between milepost 11.5 to 12.5. This is a stretch of road just to the east of the Town of La Honda and has been the scene of numerous major injury and fatality accidents in the past. At three points in this section of road the highway falls dramatically due to a massive land movement, part of the west bound lane has slipped away and the shoulder has been eaten away resulting in a dangerous turn that if missed will result in a fall of nearly 50 ft. into the creek below. Caltrans has marked all of this damage with signs, barricades and will soon activate a series of signal lights.

The cause of both accidents is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol."

Fire Brigade Seeking Public Comment on Station Remodel

The La Honda Fire Brigade Inc., a non-profit 501 © 3 corporation will hold a public meeting on April 6, 2006, at 8945 La Honda Rd La Honda CA 94020.

The La Honda Fire Brigade is seeking public comment on a planned remodel of the La Honda Fire Station. The project will consist of a 276 sq. ft. expansion of the Station and limited interior remodeling. The purpose of this project is to develop a Training Classroom and Emergency Operations Center. The project site is the location of this meeting. Construction plans
will be available before the meeting for public viewing. Comments from the public will be accepted by the Board of Directors at 8 pm. It is anticipated that financing for this project will be obtained through the USDA Rural Development Agency.

Questions pertaining to this notice should be directed to:

Larry Whitney
Chief, La Honda Fire Brigade.
650-747-0381

Holiday storms keep La Honda Fire Brigade busy

"Over the New Year’s Holiday Weekend the La Honda Fire Brigade responded to over a dozen emergency calls. These included vehicle accidents, electric lines down, trees blocking roads and mudslides. The Brigade also opened our Emergency Operations Center Saturday morning. This included staffing our Fire Station and coordinating Emergency Responses in the La Honda area.

As the potential for this last series of storms became known we met with County Fire personnel and reviewed our emergency response plan for the Southcoast. This plan included: emergency communications, how fire resources would be allocated, flood operations in Pescadero and the pre-positioning of Sand Bags in La Honda.

While damage to this area was limited, there are some areas of concern that we want to bring to the attention of the public:

…Swift Water Crossings
During major storms it is not uncommon for creeks and drainages to breach their banks and flow over roads. Falling into any swift water in this area can easily be fatal. The waters speed, temperature, accessibility, and flow of debris severely hampers rescue efforts and reduces the likelihood of surviving such a fall.

Power Lines Down
Downed power lines are a danger year around and during storms they are common and can be deceiving. During dark days downed lines can easily blend into the landscape and be difficult to identify. Treat all downed lines as “HIGH VOLTAGE”. Do not attempt to move them no matter what. Dial 911 and report downed lines to PG & E. When you see Fire Dept. yellow marking tape do not cross over it."
From Larry Whitney, Chief of the La Honda Fire Brigade

Earthquake Preparedness…a reminder after the Loma Prieta anniversary

Earthquake Preparedness…a reminder after the Loma Prieta anniversary

"As we go into fall and start planning for winter, this year continues to remind us that disasters can occur anywhere and at anytime. We have painfully seen instances where the difference between life and death was how prepared people were to take care of themselves. Being prepared for a multitude of disasters is even more important in our area where limited emergency services can be easily stripped or unable to gain quick access where needed. In the case of earthquakes a useful and perhaps life-saving new handbook has been released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). “Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country — Your Handbook for the Bay Region” is a practical, informative guide for Bay Area residents on earthquake preparedness. This handbook is oriented towards the earthquake threat we live with and it's tips and information are something that every area resident should be aware of. The handbook describes the likely impacts of future earthquakes in the Bay Area and gives seven important steps people should follow to prepare for, survive and recover from future earthquakes. The 32-page handbook is available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2005/15

What else can you do to be better prepared for a disaster: Make sure you are a member of the La Honda Fire Brigade. We are part of the emergency system that serves the entire Southcoast and membership dollars go directly to fund the emergency services we provide and to help insure the area is as prepared for any emergency as possible. To join please see www.lahondafire.org. You can also consider taking our Community Emergency Response Team training. This 26 hour course on Disaster Preparedness covers Emergency Medical Treatment, Light Search and Rescue, Communications and many other topics people will need to help themselves, their family, and neighbors survive a disaster. Our next class starts on Sat. Jan. 28. Please see our web site for more information and how to sign up for this class.

If you have other questions you can contact us by replying to this E-mail or calling 650-747-0381." Larry Whitney, Chief, La Honda Fire Brigade (message #8418)

Emergency Preparedness in La Honda

Emergency Preparedness in La Honda
After Katrina and Rita, we must ask ourselves, "Are We Prepared?"
Contents:
1. Thoughts on Emergency Scenarios
2. La Honda Neighborhood Emergency Services Team (NEST)
3. La Honda Fire & Katrina
4. NEST versus CERT
5. Animals in Disaster Group

Emergency Preparedness
1. Thoughts on Emergency Scenarios
"We have 4 serious scenarios to consider, to my thinking. 1. Earthquake of course, with road closure and power loss. 2. Rain induced slides and flooding, with road closure and power loss. 3. Wildfire. 4. Windstorms that close roads & cut power. One question that comes to mind is if there is any back up power for the water filtration system. We have good gravity feed, but I believe we need a power source to maintain water quality. Locals with wells would need gasoline generators to power their pumps. With no gas station in town, having a reasonable reserve of fuel would be an important consideration. Another question would be back-up communications if cable and phone lines are interrupted. Does the firehouse have independent radio capability? (I expect they do, but I don't know) If the town were isolated for an extended period, who beyond the volunteer fire department would be able to treat medical emergencies? In case of a local wildfire, who would determine and mark the safe escape routes? It is good to consider such things and have a plan. We can see it wasn't done well enough in New Orleans, for a predicted situation. And does Sheriff Shrom have enough deputies? We don't want looting down at the store." thoughts from ilaya_tom (message # 8184)

2. La Honda Neighborhood Emergency Services Team (NEST)
"[The] La Honda Fire Brigade hosts the La Honda NEST Website at: It will give you information and links on what had been pre-planned when we left (about 2 years ago). I don't have any information about updates. Anyone on the Fire Brigade or the Board of Directors should be able to point you to the current NEST director." From Jan Haverty (message # 8188) http://www.lahondafire.org/nest/Index.htm

3. La Honda Fire & Katrina "To date Hurricane Katrina is by far one of the greatest natural disasters to ever hit this nation. Prior to Hurricane Katrina FEMA's top three predictions were for a major hurricane hitting the Gulf Region, a major earthquake to occur the west coast and a second terrorist attack. Are you prepared when the next disaster strikes here? The next major earthquake that hits the Bay Area will not give us the warning that the populations of the South enjoyed.
LH Fire Brigade Annual cake BreakPanfast msposs@coastside.net
"The La Honda Fire Brigade is having it's annual pancake breakfast on Sunday , October 16. I am putting this out on our local groups now because I am looking for ways to reach people over the hill who go to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival that weekend. Are any of you familiar with the newspapers or ways to advertise our pancake breakfast? If you have any suggestions for me please email me at . Thanks, Sandi." From S Ruiz-Poss (message # 8287)

One of Katrina's early lessons is that even with warning national assistance takes time to mobilize and move. Do you have at least three days of food and water for your entire family? That's the recommendation for suburban areas; you should have even more here. Do you know where to go to seek help when the telephone system fails? Does anyone in your family have basic first aid skills or know CPR? September is National Preparedness Month and right now is time to start thinking about these important questions. Educate yourself. The Red Cross's http://www.bayarea-redcross.org and FEMA;s http://www.fema.gov/preparedness.gov are both great sites… …Consider helping prepare your neighborhood for an emergency by becoming a member of the South Coast Community Emergency Response Team, CERT. Team members receive emergency service training and learn how to help take care of their neighbors and family when a disaster strikes. For more information see http://www.lahondafire.org Support your La Honda Fire Brigade. Membership money helps strengthen our capability to respond to all types of emergencies throughout the South Coast. You'll agree if you have an emergency that it's the best $60.00 you will have ever spent. Membership forms are also available at http://www.lahondafire.org"… From Larry Whitney (message #8189)

4. NEST versus CERT
"Indeed NEST does still exist although not very active. More emphasis has been placed lately on getting local CERT (community emergency response teams) groups up and running. CERT members have basic training in areas of emergency response following as federal standard. I'd like to get more NEST folks interested in this program but currently only 2 or 3 have done the training"…From Joseph Kral (message #8190)

5. Animals in Disaster Group
"There's another emergency group in the La Honda area – Animals in Disaster. We're a volunteer group formed to help keep San Mateo coast-side animals safe by preparing for, and responding to, local disasters. Remember that disaster preparedness should extend to animals that depend on you for their needs. Here are two things you can do now to prepare: 1) Create a portable disaster supply kit including supplies for your animals. This kit can be used as emergency supplies if you have to shelter-in-place at home, or in case of evacuation. 2) Arrange a buddy system with neighbors to provide for the needs of your pet in case you can not get home in a disaster. Your "buddies" should know your animals, how to care for them, and where the supplies are kept (including any meds your animals need.) … Or feel free to contact us for more information on how to be better prepared for yourself and your animals. We are always looking for volunteers; let us know if you have skills to offer, would like to train as a shelter volunteer, or can help in other ways. Donations gratefully accepted…"From Lisa Lee (message #8206)