Anonymous
Source: Santa Barbara County Fire Department
San Marcos Pass-Eastern Goleta Valley Mountainous Communities Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Residents of the San Marcos Pass/Eastern Goleta Valley Mountainous Area in collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Los Padres National Forest, and the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council have completed a draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The draft San Marcos Pass- Eastern Goleta Valley Mountainous Communities CWPP includes the communities of Painted Cave, San Marcos Trout Club, East and West Camino Cielo, Stagecoach and Coldsprings Road, Paradise Road, Old San Marcos Road, Twin Ridge, and the San Marcos Foothills. The concept of the CWPP arose under federal law with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) in 2003. In March of 2004, the National Association of State Foresters, Society of American Foresters, National Association of Counties, Communities’ Committee, and Western Governor’s Association published the guidance booklet “Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan; A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface Communities”. On August 8, 2011, the County Board of Supervisors approved a CWPP Development Process.
The purpose of a CWPP is to identify fire hazard reduction strategies for at-risk communities that are in balance with sustainable ecological management and fiscal resources, and to provide educational resources for residents to enhance fire preparedness. Fire hazard reduction strategies include identifying and prioritizing areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments, recommending current best practices as to the types and methods of fuel treatments, and recommending measures to reduce structure ignitability. They are collaborative agreements, developed by at-risk communities in consultation with various interested parties and agreed to by the appropriate local government, fire department and the State Forester. Four CWPPs have been developed in the County of Santa Barbara: (1) Mission Canyon Wildfire Protection Plan, (2) Montecito Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and (3) City of Goleta Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and (4) Carpinteria-Summerland Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Development of the San Marcos Pass/Eastern Goleta Valley Mountainous Area CWPP began in 2016. A CWPP Development Team consisting of community members and technical experts was formed to work in conjunction with a Fire Planning consultant to develop the plan. A County working group consisting of staff from County Fire, Planning and Development, and the County Executive Office gave guidance and support to the Development Team. A draft plan has been completed and is available for review. The draft Plan can be accessed on the Santa Barbara County Fire website at-
Santa Barbara County Fire will host a Public Workshop to review the Draft Plan on February 7, 2019, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The workshop will be held at the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission Hearing Room located at 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
More Mesa – Hope Ranch plan? Huge population involved up Puente from Hollister. Dense. Everyone should be prepared in this new reality of wildfire. Ask the question: If I am unable to evacuate (and no help coming), what am I prepared to do on my own?
I agree w/firefighters. Clear areas if you want your structures protected. Clear everything away from house, too. DON’T store firewood against house. Those who are not clearing their property are putting everyone else at risk. New thinking and responsibility is required now.
I am baffled by your comment. Aside from two structure fires (a garage in 1984, and a building on Laurel Springs Ranch) to my knowledge, nothing else has burned in Painted Cave since the Coyote Fire in 1963, which was a back fire operation during that fire. There was the Lookout Fire, but that didn’t burn any structures. The Painted Cave Fire never got to Painted Cave and started above the Trout Club on Old San Marcos. Our insurance rates certainly went up, due to the unfortunate name of the fire, but there was no property loss up here. What is it that you are referring to?
There is a segment of the population who wont be happy till every bit of wildland is clear-cut and a barren landscape upon which they can build their dream homes and have a bitchen view of the ocean