The Del Mar Heights Fire Safe Council is committed to taking meaningful action to protect lives, homes, and open space from the growing threat of wildfire.
The Del Mar Heights Fire Safe Council (DMH FSC) was recently awarded a grant from the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation, the San Diego River Conservancy and SDG&E to support SparkSecure26, the council’s wildfire mitigation project focused on Crest Canyon.
Del Mar Heights Fire Safe Council received a grant to support fire mitigation efforts in the community. Pictured are (l-r) Joan Jones of the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation with fire council members Viji Raveendran and Enid Sherman, and Ronnie Rossman and Shaina Gross of SDG&E. (Courtesy DMH FSC)
Crest Canyon, the open space located north of Del Mar Heights Road, poses a significant wildfire threat to surrounding homes, according to a DMH FSC news release. The existing dead trees, invasive species such as pampas grass, and eucalyptus ladder fuels in the canyon create conditions that can transform a ground fire into a fast-moving blaze, similar to what was seen during the June 2024 Del Mar fire, which scorched 19 acres in the Torrey Pines Natural Reserve Extension across the street and forced emergency evacuations.
The DMH FSC’s grant was awarded through the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation’s Project SAFE program. In July, the SAFE funded 30 fire safe councils across San Diego County with grants totaling $276,000 to assist in wildfire prevention, preparedness and community education.
According to the news release, the fire council’s SparkSecure26 initiative will be a two-stage project, beginning with a professional canyon survey to identify high-priority areas and the most effective fuel reduction treatments. The volunteer-led council then plans to take on three days of hands-on fuel reduction work in partnership with environmental organizations, targeting the dead trees, ladder fuels, and invasive species.
The project also aims to extend its impact beyond the canyon by encouraging homeowners along the rim to pursue fuel reduction within their own defensible space through the city’s Brush Management Right of Entry Process.
While the grant will partially fund the project, the DMH FSC is hoping for community contributions to help get it done. To contribute or learn more information, visit sites.google.com/view/del-mar-heights-fsc or @dmfsc92014 on Instagram.