Mont. Co. hosts fire prep meeting in Carmel Valley

The historic destruction in Northern California from wildfires is causing a lot of concern for people living in Carmel Valley.

After the Camp Fire, Monterey County Supervisor Mary Adams says she got more calls about fire dangers than about any other issue in her area before.

Adams, Cal Fire officials and other county and fire staff held a meeting Thursday night at Palo Corona Regional Park to address some of the concerns residents have.

For Carmel Valley resident Elizabeth Golden, the Soberanes Fire in 2016 came a little too close to home.

“It was very scary to be going home and see the big cloud of smoke and to be driving towards it and then be in the mountains, not really being able to see what was happening with the fire,” she said.

Many of these residents live near heavily forested areas, sometimes only accessible through one lane roads.

“It’s not like the homes are placed in a neighborhood. They’re in and around some of those canyons and that makes protecting them very difficult for us,” said Reno Ditullio Jr., the assistant chief for Cal Fire West Division Operations.

“I know the similarities to Paradise and that there weren’t very many evacuation routes,” said Corrie Rothman, another Carmel Valley resident. “And I can see some parallels to Carmel Valley and I’m concerned for my family and my loved ones and the other residents of our area.”

Calf Fire says the Soberanes Fire took out more than 50 homes. Winds combined with plenty of fuels is a bad combination, and Monterey County’s fire and law enforcement agencies say they can only do so much.

“The lack of firefighting resources, a response to an emergency, we tend to get in after the fire has kind of gone through in some occasions,” said Ditullio.

That is why they say preparation is essential: having seven days-worth of food and water, defensible space around your home and an escape plan.

“So we all have to work together, and I believe we’re all on the same page in asking the public to be prepared,” said Ditullio.

One of the big lessons of the Camp Fire is how quickly it moved, which is another reason leaders say being prepared is so important rather than just waiting for authorities.