Our community continues to exist in its unique "natural" condition because of our General Plan. This issue of the Sentinel highlights the issue of fire hazards addressed by Goal #5.
1. Recognize and preserve the unique rural character and individualistic lifestyle of La Habra Heights.
2. Preserve and enhance the scenic beauty and natural wildlife of the area.
3. Minimize alteration of the natural terrain.
4. Preserve, maintain, and encourage agricultural uses, especially avocado groves, citrus groves, and Christmas tree farms.
5. Reduce potential fire and recognize geologic hazards.
6. In harmony with the R-A-1 zoning, the City supports individual rights to keep horses, all animals used for 4-H projects, and other livestock as allowed by local ordinance; and encourage the private development and maintenance of a system of trails for horseback riding and hiking.
7. Assure that regional traffic demands will be accommodated in a manner consistent with the unique La Habra Heights environment.
8. Protect the Powder Canyon Significant Ecological Area.
The first half of Goal 5, "Reduce potential fire hazards," is particularly important as we approach fire season after a wet winter, late spring rains, and the subsequent abundant spring and summer growth.
A key element of the "feel" of La Habra Heights is the thick vegetation that screens houses and roads, adds color and interest to the viewscape and softens the terrain. Comparing the barren hills to our east and south with our own hills clearly demonstrates the benefits of our lush foliage and trees. But with the dense vegetation comes the responsibility for recognizing the potential fire hazards that it brings. Fires can and do start regularly in southern California. Hazard recognition requires that each resident understand what is necessary to prevent the spread of fire.
Our City, representing us collectively, provides minimum fire protection through the annual fire fee that we pay. We have an excellent Volunteer Fire Department with over half a century of experience in fire control in our hills. The VFD continually updates its capabilities with new personnel training programs and through regional mutual aid associations with other departments. Equipment that can maneuver on our narrow roads and in our narrow, sharp-cornered driveways is essential.
Our fire-sensitive community should not be left vulnerable to the danger of fire just because the proper equipment is not available. Because our rural identity is maintained by the absence of commercial development, the lack of sales tax revenues means that our residents collectively pay for the specialized equipment.
Another responsibility incumbent upon residents is the weed abatement program. Each year the City sends notices to all homes describing the brush and weed control measures that the property owner is legally required to implement. If each property owner makes the attempt to meet those clearance specifications, our potential hazard is substantially minimized. (Page 3 contains a more detailed discussion of this essential program.)
The Heights has about 42 miles of public roads and approximately eight miles of private roads and driveways. Considering that each road has two sides, there are about 100 miles of road frontage that should be kept free of weeds and other highly flammable materials. The cost to the City to hire annual clean-up crews for 100 miles of frontage would be astronomical. Fortunately, the majority of residents keep this hazard minimized with just a few hours of attention each year. Instead of expecting that "someone else" should clean up our property frontage on the public right-of-way, we residents take the responsibility ourselves.
Our City owns very few capital assets. Most of the property and structures in the Heights are privately owned. To protect our property and its lush vegetation that adds so much to our lifestyle and our property values, each citizen of La Habra Heights should:
Support our City Council and Fire Department in its efforts to provide us with the best possible protection;
Follow the weed abatement procedures mailed to us each year;
Look out for and clean up fire hazards throughout our property;
Implement preventative measures by use of fire-retardant landscaping "breaks" such as succulents around our property and along our road frontage;
If we have a pool, obtain a pump so that our "reservoir" can be used for fire suppression;
Be aware of strangers acting suspiciously. Many fires are started by transients or kids fooling around;
Take a walk around our property and appreciate the beauty and think about what else we can do to protect it.