Description

As reported on this site, a downed tree blocking the top of the Zinn Dr. fire trail was cut up. Unfortunately, the pieces of the entire tree were left behind at the side of the trail & it was not a large tree. Along with this tree & the dried grass at the Drake end of the same fire trail, there are 18 or more fallen trees from the Asilomar end of the fire trail down to the Drake end, most have been cut to marginally clear the fire trail, but all pieces of trees were left behind including dried leaves and branches which would burn easily should an ember land on them. If fire inspectors sighted such debris in our yards, I am sure we would have received a "get rid of hazardous debris" notice. All this dry, dead material is a catastrophe waiting to happen. It would be a big job to clear, but I suspect some nearby neighbors and Montclair hills residents might be willing to help remove the lighter materials. Dumpsters could be brought to both ends of the trail and used to haul away the mess. This might be a great challenge for hills-area Scout troops and an opportunity to educate young people on the dangers of careless fire play and poor cleaning up. We are certainly giving them a terrible example with the horrible condition of this so-called fire trail and allowing hazardous conditions accumulate year after year, which could someday cause massive destruction of lives and homes across our beautiful East Bay hills.