Red Car Canyon: Silver Lake Fire Could Have Been Worse

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 25, 2016.  The large palm tree in was among the the once dense overgrowth of trees and shrubs on the Lake View side of Red Car Canyon.  Some neighbors routinely cleared and removed brush 10' back from their fence on the Red Car Property. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Over the years many eucalyptus trees went down in this part of the canyon. The dead tree on the ground here, went down in 2010.   Eucalyptus also seem to go down or drop large branches in the summer months throughout the neighborhood too.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 20, 2016.  In 26 years I had never seen so much daylight through the Lake View side of Red Car Canyon. You can see just how close the fire came to homes on Lake View.  LAFD was able to stop the fire before it reached homes on Lake View with a combination of precise water drops from helicopters, crews on the ground both on Lake View and on the Red Car Property.

Photo: Lake View Neighbor, June 19, 2016.  Wildland fire crews armed with shovels, pick axes and chainsaws went in after  helicopter water drops to reduce the vegetation.  It seemed these crews were everywhere the day of the fire where the temperature before the fire was already 106 degrees.

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor, July 8, 2016.  Like the trees throughout the Red Car Property near the fire, almost all the trees are brown, but many are showing signs of life with fresh growth.  Neighbors are wondering when the Red Car Property owner will do brush clearance which should include trimming trees and brush. 

A check of the LAFD Brush Unit's website indicates, somehow, the two Red Car Property lots that were on fire 6-19-16 were both inspected a few days before the fire and were somehow in compliance? Everyone who lives nearby had been asking me when the lots would be cleared.  Nothing was done prior to, nor after the fire. If you live adjacent to the Red Car Property and are concerned about the dry brush, report the hazard to LAFD.  It often helps to send photos.  Be sure you include your address & phone so they can find which part of the property you are talking about: http://www.lafd.org/fire-prevention/brush/report-hazard