A Healthy Forest is a Healthy Habitat A Healthy Forest is a Healthy Habitat A Healthy Forest is a Healthy Habitat NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER NEWSLETTERVolumeVOLUME 26 26 SPRINGs SUMMER 2020 2020 VOLUME 26 SPRING 2020 (951)951.659.6208 6596208 (951) 6596208 Board of Directors Board of Directors MCFSC, Fire Season, Abatement and COVID-19 Officers MCFSC, Fire Season, Abatement and COVID-19 NormOfficers Walker ……………….President Norm Walker……………….President As I sit in my den writing this article for our newsletter, I have no idea whether the Chris Kramer…………Vice President informationAs I sit in my I’m den passing writing on this will article be relevant for our or newsletter, accurate byI have the timeno idea it gets whether out to the our MarvinChris Kramer Spreyne……………………….Vice SecretaryPresident information I’m passing on will be relevant or accurate by the time it gets out to our Marvin Spreyne…………….Secretary members. Circumstances change quickly in these times as you all know. However, here Jerry Holldber………………Treasurer members. Circumstances change quickly in these times as you all know. However, here DorisJerry LombardHolldber……………………………….TreasurerDirector is what’s happening with the Fire Safe Council and our relationship with our cooperating Doris Lombard……………….Director agenciesis what’s happeningas I know it with today. the Fire Safe Council and our relationship with our cooperating Woody Henderson…………..Director agencies as I know it today. Woody Henderson…………..Director Staff Fire season is coming. Like COVID19, we can’t stop all wildland fires but we can slow KatStaff Wilson ………..Executive Director themFire season down in is our coming. neighborhoods Like COVID by 19,keeping we can our’t stopyards all cleaned wildland up fires and but roofs we clean. can slow PeteKat Wilson Coy……………………..ExecutiveProject Manager Director MCFSCthem down is following in our neighborhoods the county guidelines by keeping for COVIDour yards19 cleaned even though up and we roofs have clean. been CourtneyPete Coy ……………Locke……ProjectProject Assistant Manager determinedMCFSC is following (by Supervisor the county Washington guidelines’s office) for COVID to be 19an evenessential though service. we have Spring been has JonathanCourtney BaxterLocke…………..ProjectField Assistant Assistant broughtdetermined an uptick (by Supervisor in requests Washington for abatement’s office) and towe be’re angetting essential to them service. as soon Spring as has Jonathan Baxter……..Field Assistant possible.brought an uptick in requests for abatement and we’re getting to them as soon as possible. One factor in our decision making is that we applied for a Cal Fire abatement grant but wereOne factordenied in this our year. decision Subsequently making is thatwe are we operatingapplied for on a limitedCal Fire funds abatement which requiresgrant but prioritizationwere denied bythis primary year. Subsequently home owners we and are homes operating in areas on limitedthat the funds fire agencies which requires designateprioritization as bymost primary vulnerable home to owners wildland and fire. homes Between in areas last thatyear the and fire this, agencies requests for abatementdesignate ashave most been vulnerable up substantially, to wildland which fire. hasBetween caused last us year to spend and this, most requests of our current for threeabatementyear Cal have Fire been grant up in substantially, about two years. which has caused us to spend most of our current threeyear Cal Fire grant in about two years. Donations are very important to us this year but we also know that these are tough financialDonations times are forvery most important people. to us this year but we also know that these are tough financial times for most people. Our Woodies group, which are all volunteers, have also been deemed essential by the Left to right: Norm Walker, Pete Coy, SupervisorOur Woodies’s office group, and which are workingare all volunteers, on a limited have basis also in orderbeen deemedto keep firewoodessential in by the the LeftChris to right: Kramer, Norm Doris Walker, Lombard, Pete Coy, Supervisor’s office and are working on a limited basis in order to keep firewood in the Chris Kramer, Doris Lombard, storage cage for the Help Center to distribute to low income families. The work routine Robert Yturralde, Erin O’Rourke and storage cage for the Help Center to distribute to low income families. The work routine Robert Yturralde,Kevin Kothlow Erin O’Rourke and has been modified to cutting on one day and splitting on another to keep the work parties Kevin Kothlow tohas a minimumbeen modified number to cuttingof PPE on equipped one day individuals. and splitting The on Woodiesanother to are keep also the doing work property parties inspectionsto a minimum in preparationnumber of PPE for Team equipped Rubicon individuals.’s arrival. The Woodies are also doing property inspections in preparation for Team Rubicon’s arrival. MCFSC would like to thank the MCFSC would like to thank the Team Rubicon will be in town from June 20 – 27 to do some abatement jobs for low following for their support: Team Rubicon will be in town from June 20 – 27 to do some abatement jobs for low following for their support: income families. These abatement jobs will be coordinated by our Executive Director and herincome staff families.at MCFSC. These abatement jobs will be coordinated by our Executive Director and • CAL FIRE and the California • her staff at MCFSC. ClimateCAL FIRE Investments and the California Climate Investments Remember that SoCal Edison is still removing trees that threaten their lines and Cal Fire program isRemember removing deadthat SoCal and dying Edison trees is still whatever removing the treescause that (bark threaten beetles, their GSOB lines or and drought). Cal Fire • U.S.program Forest Service and is removing dead and dying trees whatever the cause (bark beetles, GSOB or drought). • Call us. If we can’t do the job, we will try to direct you to an agency that can. theU.S. California Forest Service Fire Safe and Call us. If we can’t do the job, we will try to direct you to an agency that can. Councilthe California 3rd District Fire Safe County Stay safe everyone, SupervisorCouncil 3rd District County Stay safe everyone, • TheSupervisor Idyllwild Community Norm Walker • FundThe Idyllwild Community PresidentNorm Walker of the Board • TheFund many MCFSC MountainPresident Communitiesof the Board Fire Safe Council Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council • generousThe many members MCFSC generous members Pine Cove Roads Project: Details and Abatement Progress Update Pine Cove Roads Project: Details and Abatement Progress Update In partnership with As stewards of the community, our goal is to provide emergency access during a disaster while also In partnership with preservingAs stewards the of natural the community, beauty of Pineour goal Cove; is tocreating provide better emergency access access for Fire during & Rescue a disaster equipment while duringalso medicalpreserving emergencies, the natural residential beauty of structurePine Cove; and creating wildland better forest access fires. forFunding Fire & is Rescue provided equipment by Riverside during County,medical as emergencies, a recommendation residential from structure CSA 38. and wildland forest fires. Funding is provided by Riverside County, as a recommendation from CSA 38. MCFSC is implementing the project and working with local contractors who are performing the work. ThusMCFSC far, 2is zonesimplementing (both West the ofproject Highway and 243)working of 7 with have local been contractors completed. who Abatement are performing on the theremaining work. 5 zonesThus willfar, resume2 zones at(both the endWest of of June Highway and continue 243) of 7through have been summer completed. 2020. Abatement on the remaining 5 zones will resume at the end of June and continue through summer 2020. Codes and regulations being utilized: 2020 CA Fire Safe Regulations—Section 1273, CA Public Resource Code—Section 4290.5, CA Fire Code Chapters 5 & 45, Sections 503, 4906 & 4907, CA Vehicle Code—Section 35250, County of Riverside—Ordinance 787, EMD & Local Hazard Abatement. Codes and regulations being utilized: 2020 CA Fire Safe Regulations—Section 1273, CA Public Resource Code—Section 4290.5, CA Fire Code Chapters 5 & 45, Sections 503, 4906 & 4907, CA Vehicle Code—Section 35250, County of Riverside—Ordinance 787, EMD & Local Hazard Abatement. Funding for this Newsletter is provided by a grant from the Cooperative Fire Program of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Pacific Southwest Region, through the California Fire Safe Council and by donations from our dedicated members.

Funding for this Newsletter is provided by a grant from the Cooperative Fire Program of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Pacific Southwest Region, through the California Fire Safe Council and by donations from our dedicated members. Preparedness and Defensible Space—What MCFSC Can Do for You By Pete Coy, MCFSC Project Manager

Before Work After Work Here is an example of an overgrown backyard at a mountain Here is the same home after MCFSC assistance with residence. The house cannot be seen from the street, hazardous fuels abatement. The house can now be viewed making it an unlikely candidate to be saved in a fire. from the street and has a greater chance of being saved.

Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council has Grant Funds to Help You Prepare Your Property for Fire Season We have been assisting residents living in the San Jacinto Mountain WUI for 18 years. We may be able to help you with your hazardous fuels abatement and dead tree removal within the defensible space area of your dwelling.

If your property needs more work than you can handle, grant funds are available to help you hire a licensed, insured contractor. If you have dead, dying or diseased trees, grant funds are available to help you remove them. Funds are also available to help lowincome and senior citizens with their fuels reduction, thanks to our 3rd District Supervisor. For more information on free abatement consultation, call 9516596208! Facing the Fight for Our Oaks, a Goldspotted Oak Borer Update By Dr. Tom Scott, Natural Resource Specialist, UC Berkeley and UC Riverside Black oaks across the mountain have set their first flush of new leaves; reclaiming their place in the forest canopies of Idyll- wild and Pine Cove. This annual burst of bright green serves as a reminder of the contribution these oaks make to mountain communities: shade, wildlife habitat, beauty and a sense of place. But every year, however, a number of oaks fail to leaf out, killed by the Goldspotted oak borer (GSOB), an exotic invasive beetle that was accidentally brought to the mountain in firewood about 10 years ago. GSOB larva girdle the trunks of black oaks and canyon live oaks, damaging the ability of oaks to grow new vessels and leafout this spring. Girdling occurs from June to September when oaks are often stressed by sum- mer drought.

GSOB tends to attack the oldest and largest oaks in a woodland. Initial attack may only be a few dozen larva, but can rapid- ly increase, producing thousands of beetles in a single tree in one year. The good news is that GSOB only attacks Black and Canyon Live Oaks; and it doesn’t seem to attack oaks smaller than six inches in diameter. GSOB damage is an annual process, with adult beetles emerging every June. They mate during a twomonth flight season, and females then lay eggs onto the bark of oak tree trunks. In October and November, they move to the outer bark and re- main dormant over the winter months. The larva turn into adults when temperatures warm in the late spring and summer and the process is repeated. The only way to stop the cycle is to destroy the bark before the beetles can emerge, or to treat the bark surface with barrier pesticides that kill the adults as they emerge. After years of research, entomologists have found no biological control for this pest. Since it was first discovered in 2013, CAL FIRE and local agencies have worked to slow and control GSOB in the San Jacinto Mountains. Last year, Riverside County Fire Department received a grant from the CAL FIRE Forest Health Pro- gram to survey and manage GSOB infested oaks in the San Jacinto Mountains. As part of California Climate Investments (CCI), the program seeks to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk by mitigating the damage caused by GSOB in mountain communities. County staff began surveying for GSOB last fall, and will start evaluating oaks on properties in Idyll- wild and Pine Cove this summer.

Program information can be found by calling the GSOB hotline 9516598328! Surveys will be conducted at no charge to property owners who join the program, with the opportunity for cost sharing for the treatment or removal of GSOB infested trees. Page 2 s Summer 2020

Riverside County Accomplishments Update by Chief Nochella Funes, Battalion Chief and Forester

The CAL FIRE Riverside Unit was successful in coordinating and implementing Unit funded projects that provided direct protection to the residents of Riverside County. Some of the completion accomplishments for projects in and around the communities of Idyllwild and Pine Cove are as follows:

Astro Camp Upper Dry Creek: this project is a multi-year entry fuels reduction project with a goal of creating safer ingress/egress on Highway 243 which is a major evacuation route for the communities in and around Idyllwild. The project consists of chipping onsite and piling fuels for future burning. The project is a total of 70 acres. This project was a major factor in preventing the Cranston Fire (July 2018) from entering the community of Idyllwild. Truck Trail Maintenance: this project is an ongoing and important fire truck trail infrastructure project, completed via Riverside’s Heavy Fire Equipment Operators (HFEO). The work included filling of riling/rutting portions of the trails and completing a final grade for the insurance of passage for fire equipment. Red Hill VMP: this project is a fuel reduction project encompassing the Red Hill truck trail and beyond ranging from Alhatti to the Idyllwild Arts Institution. The project will create a 300’ fuels modification project to help protect the citizens of Pine Cove and Idyllwild from a catastrophic wildfire. RRU Demonstration Forest: this project is a fuel reduction and forest health project located off Franklin Drive in Pine Cove which aims to reduce tree density and fuel loadings on 6 acres. The area is intended to provide a demonstration to the local community on appropriate tree density and fuel loading for their properties. Work includes tree removal, understory thinning and broadcast burning. Point of Rocks Hazardous Fuel Reduction: this project is a fuel reduction project located around the northeast perimeter of Idyllwild and Pine Cove ranging from Chipmunk Drive to the Thousand Trails Campgrounds. The project will create a 300’ fuels modification project to help protect the citizens of Pine Cove and Idyllwild from a catastrophic wildfire. Dead/Dying/Disease tree removal program: this project, coordinated by Riverside County, has assisted with the removal of numerous Dead, Dying, and Diseased trees in the community, many of which were infected oak trees with GSOB. Riverside County currently has grant funding available to assist local residents with the removal of Dead, Dying, and Diseased trees on their properties. Individuals interested in learning more can leave a message on the GSOB Hotline at (951)6598328, and a project manager will reach out. With the fuels reduction efforts, it is still imperative that landowners conduct their annual defensible space efforts on their properties. These efforts will help make the mountain communities much more resilient to catastrophic wildfire.

A Message from Idyllwild Fire Department Together we will be successful. No fire agency can successfully provide for your safety without your continued commitment and support. Your emergency fire service partners are working hard to limit the overall exposure and fire threat to our communities, but without your diligence we will fall short of the goal. Fire hardening your homes and fully adhering to the abatement ordinance will provide the advantage needed to successfully manage fires which threaten our communities. In 2019 your efforts were an extraordinary demonstration of your commitment to the safety of your neighbors, our community and support of your fire service cooperators. Together, in conjunction with the efforts of your emergency and fire service agencies the upcoming 2020 Fire Season is sure to be a success. Looking ahead your Idyllwild Fire team is committed to providing you with continued exceptional service, focusing on the protection of lives, property and the environment. As you know, very soon the weather and fuel conditions will change as summer approaches. Your diligence in home hardening, abatement and fuel reduction efforts in conjunction with continued planning, prevention and preparedness will be instrumental to our combined future successes. Maintaining and building on our relationships and open communications with our citizens and cooperators helps us to properly prepare and keep our communities safe. We look forward to the continued cooperation with each of our residents and property owners and our partners of the United States Forest Service, Riverside County Fire, Cal Fire and the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council. Please contact us should you have any questions or comments and visit our website at www.idyllwildfire.com for updated and helpful information. Thank you,

Mark LaMont

Summer 2020 s Page 3 WeWe AreAre Woodies!Woodies! We Are Woodies! Weed whacking, raking and hauling debris is essential in WeedWeed whacking, whacking, raking raking and and hauling hauling debris debris is is essential essential in in keeping our community fire safe and Woodies are up to the keeping our community fire safe and Woodies are up to the keeping our community fire safe and Woodies are up to the challenge! We average 1 to 2 abatement jobs a month challenge!challenge! We We average average 1 1to to 2 2abatement abatement jobs jobs a amonth month during the spring and early summer and requests are during the spring and early summer and requests are during the spring and early summer and requests are already coming in. alreadyalready coming coming in. in.

We are a diverse group of retired and active firefighters, WeWe are are a adiverse diverse group group of of retired retired and and active active firefighters, firefighters, nurses, school teachers and administrators, social workers, nurses, school teachers and administrators, social workers, nurses, school teachers and administrators, social workers, law enforcement, hairdressers, authors, art historians and lawlaw enforcement, enforcement, hairdressers, hairdressers, authors, authors, art art historians historians and and illustrators. The longest reported tenure as a Woodie is 17 illustrators. The longest reported tenure as a Woodie is 17 illustrators. The longest reported tenure as a Woodie is 17 years! years!years!

Woodies are always looking for volunteers. If you can push a WoodiesWoodies are are always always looking looking for for volunteers. volunteers. If Ifyou you can can push push a a wheelbarrow, you can be a Woodie! Of course, if you want wheelbarrow, you can be a Woodie! Of course, if you want wheelbarrow, you can be a Woodie! Of course, if you want to “branch” out to help split or cut wood, we can help train toto “branch “branch” ”out out to to help help split split or or cut cut wood, wood, we we can can help help train train you. you. you.

Inquiries about abatement help or to volunteer with InquiriesInquiries about about abatement abatement help help or or to to volunteer volunteer with with Woodies, call MCFSC 9516596208. Woodies, call MCFSC 9516596278. Woodies, call MCFSC 9516596278. Clockwise from left: Mark Hunt, Norm Walker, Chris Kramer, GiGi Clockwise from left: Mark Hunt, Norm Walker, Chris Kramer, GiGi Clockwise from left: Mark Hunt, Norm Walker, Chris Kramer, GiGi Kramer, Janice Fast, Elliott Taylor, Kaye Strickland (center) For qualification for the firewood program through the Kramer,Kramer, Janice Janice Fast, Fast, Elliott Elliott Taylor, Taylor, Kaye Kaye Strickland Strickland (center) (center) ForFor qualification qualification for for the the firewood firewood program program through through the the Idyllwild Help Center, call 9516592110. If you happen to go by the Help Center on any given Friday If you happen to go by the Help Center on any given Friday Thank you to our contractors and their crews for If you happen to go by the Help Center on any given Friday morning,Thank you you will to probably our contractors see a lot of and activity their in thecrews yard. for morning,morning, you you will will probably probably see see a alot lot of of activity activity in in the the yard. yard. Thank you to our contractors and their crews for their hard work, keeping our mountain fire safe! Peopletheir clad hard in brightwork, orange keeping shirts, our splitting mountain wood fire into safe! PeoplePeople clad clad in in bright bright orange orange shirts, shirts, splitting splitting wood wood into into their hard work, keeping our mountain fire safe! burnable sized pieces, others racing around with burnable sized pieces, others racing around with burnable sized pieces, others racing around with wheelbarrows piled high with firewood and yet others wheelbarrowswheelbarrows piled piled high high with with firewood firewood and and yet yet others others wielding chainsaws cutting large logs into manageable sizes wielding chainsaws cutting large logs into manageable sizes wielding chainsaws cutting large logs into manageable sizes for splitting. forfor splitting. splitting.

We are Woodies: a group of dedicated volunteers who WeWe are are Woodies: Woodies: a agroup group of of dedicated dedicated volunteers volunteers who who process 2 to 3 cords of wood a week to provide Help Center process 2 to 3 cords of wood a week to provide Help Center process 2 to 3 cords of wood a week to provide Help Center clients with firewood to get through the cold months. Wood, clientsclients with with firewood firewood to to get get through through the the cold cold months. months. Wood, Wood, otherwise destined for the landfill, is donated to the Woodies otherwise destined for the landfill, is donated to the Woodies otherwise destined for the landfill, is donated to the Woodies and Help Center through local tree companies or other andand Help Help Center Center through through local local tree tree companies companies or or other other sources such as the many educational camps in Idyllwild. sources such as the many educational camps in Idyllwild. sources such as the many educational camps in Idyllwild. Through this generous partnership, the Help Center is able ThroughThrough this this generous generous partnership, partnership, the the Help Help Center Center is is able able to provide wood to a weekly average of 30 households in to provide wood to a weekly average of 30 households in to provide wood to a weekly average of 30 households in need. need.need.

When weather improves and the need for firewood is not as WhenWhen weather weather improves improves and and the the need need for for firewood firewood is is not not as as demanding, Woodies shift their focus to assisting low demanding, Woodies shift their focus to assisting low demanding, Woodies shift their focus to assisting low income,US disabled Forest and seniorsService: requiring SJRD fuels reduction Update (fire US Forest Service: SJRD Update income,income, disabled disabled and and seniors seniors requiring requiring fuels fuels reduction reduction (fire (fire US Forest Service: SJRD Update abatement).

Salvador Reyes Salvador Reyes Salvador Reyes District Fire Management Officer DistrictDistrict Fire Fire Management Management Officer Officer Division 5 Forest Service San Bernardino Division 5 Forest Service San Bernardino Division 5 Forest Service San Bernardino National Forest, SJRD NationalNational Forest, Forest, SJRD SJRD The San Bernardino National Forest and the San Jacinto TheThe San San Bernardino Bernardino National National Forest Forest and and the the San San Jacinto Jacinto Ranger District (SJRD) are preparing for the start of fire Ranger District (SJRD) are preparing for the start of fire Ranger District (SJRD)ARROW are preparing for the start of fire season. This includes the start of our seasonal workforce on ARROW season.season. This This includes includes the the start start of of our our seasonal seasonal workforce workforce on on ARROW May 10th, 2020. Firefighters will engage in annual training May 10th, 2020. Firefighters will engage in annual training May 10th, 2020. Firefighters will engage in annual training and drills to hone their skills and be ready for response as andand drills drills to to hone hone theirPRINTING their skills skills and and be be ready ready for for response response as as Color portionPRINTING of Fire Safe News needed. PRINTING needed.needed. The SJRD has been able to accomplish several of the fuels is provided at no additional cost TheThe SJRD SJRD has has been been able able to to accomplish accomplish several several of of the the fuels fuels treatments that were planned this winter and is continuing to treatments that were planned this winter and is continuing to treatments that were planned this winter and is continuing to observe fuels and weather conditions in order to evaluate to the Fire Safe Council... observeobserve fuels fuels and and weather weather conditions conditions in in order order to to evaluate evaluate opportunities for additional fuels reduction on the district. opportunities for additional fuels reduction on the district. ...best wishes from Kevin opportunities for additional fuels reduction on the district. The San Bernardino National Forest and the San Jacinto TheThe San San Bernardino Bernardino National National Forest Forest and and the the San San Jacinto Jacinto 951.654.9101 Ranger District remain committed to caring for the land and Ranger District remain committed to caring for the land and Ranger District remain committed to caring for the land and serving the people. 1400 Mountain Ave • San Jacinto, CA • 92583 servingserving the the people. people.

In accordance with Federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. In accordance with Federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. PageIn accordance 4 with s Federal Summer law and the U.S. Department2020 of Agriculture policy, Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.