SONOMA, Calif. (KCBS) - The fire season is off to a busy start, with four wildfires burning in the North Bay on Thursday alone.
A 50-acre wildland fire was fought within site of Vicki Barelli's home. She considers herself ready to leave at a moment's notice, when the fire danger is high. "We have a creek right out our back, so that's kind of good but there really isn't anything you can do except have bags packed and ready to go," reasoned Barelli.
Still, she has taken steps to landscape in a way that protects her home from flames. "We saw the effects of that on this fire and it was a big help," Dan Sendek with CalFire praised Barelli's landscaping efforts. "The people in the subdivision adjacent to here have been very conscientious about clearing their property. Makes all the difference in the world to us."
According to Sendek, creating defensible space is the most important thing a resident in a rural area can do to protect his or her home. "Well, I'm glad they're here," Barelli added of the firefighters. "We have the greatest firefighters in this county, I tell you, I wish there was some way to show them our appreciation."
Photo courtesy of CBS5
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KCBS' Margie Shafer reports
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