Brian Fennessy

And there's been times where I've said, No, you've done everything that we've asked you to do. You've done the, uh, defensible space. You've got the, the, everything is, is accurate. Well, you know, we can't get insurance, you know, for this place. And I just scratched my head. I mean, we are the, we're the experts, right?

And there's been times where I've said, No, you've done everything that we've asked you to do. You've done the, uh, defensible space. You've got the, the, everything is, is accurate. Well, you know, we can't get insurance, you know, for this place. And I just scratched my head. I mean, we are the, we're the experts, right?

We know where the Santa Ana corridors or where the Canyon quarters are, are the insurance company doesn't ask us. They've got their own methodology and, and, um, We don't necessarily agree with everything that they've come up with.

We know where the Santa Ana corridors or where the Canyon quarters are, are the insurance company doesn't ask us. They've got their own methodology and, and, um, We don't necessarily agree with everything that they've come up with.

Yeah, that's a great question. And, and, you know, given the position I'm in, you know, as a fire chief, I don't know that it would be prudent or responsible for me to speculate. Um, cause I really don't, I don't know. I mean, however, if you, if you talk to people that do know me, I'm, I'm big on accountability.

Yeah, that's a great question. And, and, you know, given the position I'm in, you know, as a fire chief, I don't know that it would be prudent or responsible for me to speculate. Um, cause I really don't, I don't know. I mean, however, if you, if you talk to people that do know me, I'm, I'm big on accountability.

And, um, again, I can't speak to the mayor, the governor, the president's whatever the thing is. Um, Yeah, I just don't know. I'm not well versed in that and really have to remain apolitical.

And, um, again, I can't speak to the mayor, the governor, the president's whatever the thing is. Um, Yeah, I just don't know. I'm not well versed in that and really have to remain apolitical.

Well, I do agree with a lot. And you're right. I remember that very clearly as well. I mean, we had not just fuel breaks, but actual fire breaks. I started in 1978 with the U.S. Forest Service with the Oak Grove Hotshots, right there next to La Cunada High School. There was a hotshot crew there that was about 18 years old, and they spent 13 years with the U.S.

Well, I do agree with a lot. And you're right. I remember that very clearly as well. I mean, we had not just fuel breaks, but actual fire breaks. I started in 1978 with the U.S. Forest Service with the Oak Grove Hotshots, right there next to La Cunada High School. There was a hotshot crew there that was about 18 years old, and they spent 13 years with the U.S.

Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Much of that early time, spending time on those fuel breaks, you know, after fire season, cutting out fuel breaks, piling, burning, all those. And I mentioned that all the time. We used to spray herbicides everywhere. you know, on the fuel breaks back when you could. How dare you? Oh, my goodness.

Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Much of that early time, spending time on those fuel breaks, you know, after fire season, cutting out fuel breaks, piling, burning, all those. And I mentioned that all the time. We used to spray herbicides everywhere. you know, on the fuel breaks back when you could. How dare you? Oh, my goodness.

Yeah, using products that you can't use today. And they were very effective. And I don't know anything about the field mouse. I mean, I think as a young, you know, firefighter, you know, everything was tied around budget. And if there wasn't budget to have. So in the summer, I spent time on a fire crew, on a hot shot crew. And in the winter, I had an opportunity to work on a fuel screw.

Yeah, using products that you can't use today. And they were very effective. And I don't know anything about the field mouse. I mean, I think as a young, you know, firefighter, you know, everything was tied around budget. And if there wasn't budget to have. So in the summer, I spent time on a fire crew, on a hot shot crew. And in the winter, I had an opportunity to work on a fuel screw.

And they'd fly us up to the fuel breaks or whatever. We maintained the fuel break network that you're talking about in the front country of the Angeles National Forest. And over time, that management started to cease. Why? I don't know. I assumed it was budgetary. I don't know about the environmental piece of it.

And they'd fly us up to the fuel breaks or whatever. We maintained the fuel break network that you're talking about in the front country of the Angeles National Forest. And over time, that management started to cease. Why? I don't know. I assumed it was budgetary. I don't know about the environmental piece of it.

Well, there's a lot of that, right? In Northern California, look at the logging industry. You know, the spotted owl and all these other things. And, you know, the Forest Service used to be a resource agency. They will tell you they still are. But again, they've become a fire agency. And there's a number of things that are going on, some of them very public. And I've been on my soapbox a bit.

Well, there's a lot of that, right? In Northern California, look at the logging industry. You know, the spotted owl and all these other things. And, you know, the Forest Service used to be a resource agency. They will tell you they still are. But again, they've become a fire agency. And there's a number of things that are going on, some of them very public. And I've been on my soapbox a bit.

They're not paying and benefiting their firefighters and they're leaving in droves. Well, who has to make that up? Local government and CAL FIRE. And we've been trying to publicly put pressure on the Washington Office of the Forest Service to do something about that. So I don't want to chase that rabbit because your question's a good one. Yes, we need to be putting fire on the landscape.

They're not paying and benefiting their firefighters and they're leaving in droves. Well, who has to make that up? Local government and CAL FIRE. And we've been trying to publicly put pressure on the Washington Office of the Forest Service to do something about that. So I don't want to chase that rabbit because your question's a good one. Yes, we need to be putting fire on the landscape.