Some Montecito Heights residents are concerned over a delay in dry brush clearing at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park ahead of the 4th of July weekend, but city officials assured that the grass will be cleared before the holiday.
Every year brush surrounding homes are cleared of the dry fuels by city officials a month before the holiday, officials said, but this year residents felt that there was a delay in the process.
Some homeowners had apparently been pressuring the city for weeks to cut the grass in the area, but had not been given a definitive timeline.
“Fourth of July is a crescendo here, so we’re obviously very concerned that something will ignite in the park and that we will burn down,” said Pae White, a Montecito Heights resident.
“We are bombarded this time of year by rockets and explosions,” resident Jack Fenn said. “And I see them from my house, right across the street, exploding over dry grass.”
He is concerned that even a light breeze could carry a fire sparked by fireworks to spread quickly.
Councilmember Gill Cedillo’s office, who represents Montecito Heights, said in a statement that the city takes fire safety “very seriously,” and a team will start clearing brush over the weekend.
“The Montecito Heights community in my district is one of these areas (that gets yearly brush clearance) and is serviced by our Department of Recreation and Parks. Every year, the department goes out and clears the brush right before the 4th of July holiday to prevent any fire hazard,” the statement reads.
Cedillo, however, did not offer an explanation for the apparent delay.