Each panelist addressed the group for about five minutes and then answered questions regarding fire issues and the past fire season.

Problems this season included people not evacuating when asked and insurance companies sending private fire companies to help but not coordinating with existing fire agencies.

In Riverside County only about 1200 acres burned this year. Reasons include a wetter winter, successful public education programs regarding abatement, more than 37,000 inspections countywide, emphasis on emergency preparedness and unified command with various agencies. Emphais was placed on the fact that MAST (Mountain Area Safety Taskforce) is a critical group which must be maintained and the draught is not going away and must be dealt with.

Current projects underway from Calfire include Red Hill fuel break, North Fork, San Jacinto State Park prescribed burns, County Park, Camp Emerson, May Valley, dead tree removal, continued cooperation with the MCFSC expanding to Pinyon and Anza. U.S. Forest Service projects include North Fork, prescribed burns in Santa Rosa, Thomas Mountain, and May Valley.

While IFPD was criticized for their contractor, there were only 10 forced abatements out of 2500 inspections and a good fire season overall.

An important formula to remember is: LESSENED FIRE RISK = DEFENSIBLE SPACE + IGNITION RESISTANT MATERIALS + PUBLIC COMMITMENT.

There is still some funding coming in for projects for this year which will make fuel treatments possible but the future is in doubt.

Concern was expressed over possible changes in the South Coast Air Qualtiy Management Distirct policies which may reduce the burn days from 70 to 25 fewer and could seriously affect our ability to remove fuels in critical areas.

A question about the safety of propane tanks brought the response that if fuels are kept away from the tanks so fire unterneath doesn't over heat them they are generally very safe. The most our panelists have seen in the way of exploding tanks is one in their careers.

Officials stressed that being in compliance with fire abatement rules is the minimum homeowners need to do. Going beyond the minimum further protects homes from fire danger.

Our local success is based on agency cooperation, an active fire safe council and public commitment. Officials believe we should appreciate what we have up here and work to keep it going.