Mayor meets with Caltrans

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO - Caltrans workers and local firefighters are gearing up for another bout of Santa Ana winds expected to hit the area today and last through Thursday - with gusts predicted to hit 50 mph in some areas.

Caltrans workers continue to repair freeway guardrails, replace damaged road signs and clear burned and dead vegetation along the 215 Freeway from Mill Street to Base Line, where wind-
whipped fires destroyed a house and warehouse on Oct. 13 and also damaged a self-storage facility.

Caltrans, criticized by city officials for not clearing the tinder-dry brush along the freeway much sooner, issued an emergency order the next day, Oct. 14, allowing the state transportation agency to spend up to $1million on cleanup and repairs.

Mayor Pat Morris met with Raymond Wolfe, the new Caltrans supervisor for the San Bernardino area, and city fire officials on Tuesday to discuss the cleanup efforts along the freeway.

Morris said Caltrans has deployed about 150 workers on the cleanup mission. They're clearing the burned and dead brush along the medians and shoulders of the freeway and stripping away groundcover in order to stabilize the soil to prevent runoff when winter rains hit.

Workers are also clearing dead oleanders, trees and other vegetation along the freeway north to University Parkway. If all goes according to plan, the work should be done by the end of November, Morris said.

"They'll be working straight through and on the weekends," said Caltrans spokeswoman Barbara Miller. "I know they want to get this all cleared up and taken care of as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, firefighters are on standby and have bolstered manpower and equipment.

Dire predictions of gusty winds and extended periods of relative humidity below 10percent prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red-flag warning for the mountains and valleys of Southern California. It is expected to remain in effect through 11 p.m. Friday.

Northeast winds between 20 and 30 mph are expected, and 50 mph gusts are possible through and below passes and canyons.

The U.S. Forest Service is on high alert, with 25 local engines and five engines from the Plumas National Forest on standby. In addition, it has four hotshot crews, three airtankers, three Skycrane helitankers, two helicopters and an air attack plane at the ready should there be any flare-ups.

"We take the forecasted weather very seriously and add additional resources as needed," said National Forest Fire Chief Michael Dietrich in a news release.

He encourages the public to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity to their local fire or police agencies.

SANTA ANA WARNINGS

Another bout of Santa Ana winds is expected to hit the area today - with gusts predicted to hit 50 mph in some areas. A red-flag warning for the mountains and valleys of Southern California is expected to last until 11 p.m. Friday.