From the OC Register: "Fire watchers on alert in the canyons"

From the OC Register online:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fire-volunteers-canyons-2178206-county-watch (Article below):

Fire watchers on alert in the canyons

Volunteer force says it will be well prepared when winds whip up fire danger.

By MARK EADES and PAT BRENNAN

The Orange County Register

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The fire watch volunteers in the canyons are ready for the upcoming fire season.

Wearing bright green vests, with "Fire-Watch" signs on their car doors and toting radios, volunteers from the canyons will be on patrol this year watching for any potential arsonists, careless smokers and other fire dangers during times of high winds and peak fire danger.

Devastating fires have occurred throughout the western United States already this year, said Orange County Fire Authority chief Chip Prather. The agency is working with the volunteer programs in all the canyons and with a group with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

"We can't do this alone," Prather said. "We need the help of these volunteers."

The volunteers from each group will work with each other and with groups such as the Inter Canyon League in the county's eastern canyons.

During times of fire alerts, the volunteers will make their presence known, talk to members of the public – and do things like note down license plates of cars in wild land areas in case a fire breaks out later.

The fall months, especially October, are the Santa Ana wind months, and the fire-watch volunteers are expecting an active season. Dry conditions are making Orange County's vegetation especially vulnerable.

"I think that just our appearance of being there makes people aware of the danger," said volunteer Judy Andreosky. "Hopefully, our presence will be a deterrent to people who are not there for the right reasons."

Volunteers don't act as law-enforcement officials, but can report suspicious activity to authorities.

To be better prepared for future fires, OCFA is in the process of acquiring 11 "brush" engines for wildfires, and training helicopter pilots with night vision goggles. The agency has purchased seven of the compressed air fire-retardant foam units, which can spray homes ahead of wildfire, with five more on the way. One unit has been deployed in Silverado Canyon, and another in Coto de Caza.

Contact the writer: meades@ocregister.com or 949-454-7352