Cathy Perfect - Kern Valley Sun

The Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council gave a presentation at the February meeting of the Lake Isabella Property Owners Association. Fire Safe Council president Lloyd Smith explained the organization’s mission and vision. He also spoke to the group about the history of wildfires in the Kern River Valley from 1910 to 2006.

Smith informed the homeowners association about defensible space techniques and distributed literature that elaborated on the concept of defending your home or property with space free of vegetation and/or material that could fuel a wildfire.

Fire break in Isabella Highlands completed by Jim Davis and Scott Hinkle.

Kern County Fire Captain Rey Ramirez talked about the upcoming fuel reduction grant project for the Bodfish Canyon Road corridor, Phase I. This project will be a 32-acre roadside brushing effort scheduled to begin in early May.

At the Feb. 21 Fire Safe Council meeting, members recognized the work done by Jim Davis, a resident of Isabella Highlands, for his contribution to expanding firebreaks completed by the Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council in 2004. Davis acted as agent of the land on property owned by the Ashai Company, Ltd. The work removed one acre of native plants after a completion of an assessment of archeology and habitat improvement for target native species. The work was done through a contract with Scott Hinkle, a local contractor using a masticator. This firebreak was one that the KRVFSC wanted to complete but was unable to secure permission from the owners in 2004 and ties into BLM and existing firebreaks.