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Flood control work continues in fire-affected San Bernardino County
San Bernardino Nov 05, 2024
An earth-mover does flood control work in Line Fire burn scar area. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County
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San Bernardino County Public Works Department crews are intensifying flood control efforts to protect communities following the Bridge Fire and nearly-contained Line Fire, officials announced last week.
At the fire’s base, crews have installed a trash rack to filter debris that is intended to allow water to safely flow during storms. In Cook Canyon, crews are also installing an outlet pipe to channel possible runoff away from fire-damaged slopes to prevent slide-causing soil erosion.
The San Bernardino County Flood Control District is working with Cal Fire, the Burned Area Emergency Response team and the California Watershed Emergency Response Teams to prepare for possible flooding in fire-ravaged areas that are now more vulnerable to flooding and landslides, officials said. Public Works crews are clearing basins, channels and storm drains to prevent floods, especially in fire-affected zones, and flood control workers are on 24/7 standby with equipment in place throughout the county for swift response.
On Oct. 28, Public Works officials decided at their Winter Coordination Meeting to work with the Flood Control District on placing “K-rail barriers” in strategic locations in the Mt. Baldy area. Crews have focused recent debris-clearing operations on the Highland area.
Public Works Assistant Director David Doublet highlighted the importance of ongoing maintenance.
“It’s critical for us to capture debris flow, remove it and prepare for the next storm,” Doublet said in a statement.
Countywide teams are clearing and repairing flood control facilities, storm drains and basins, officials said. The county has also expanded surveillance capabilities, strategically installing additional cameras in key parts of the burn scar. Currently 86 cameras and rain gauges supply data to a dashboard that reports real-time conditions, providing fire monitors and officials a level of preparedness they didn’t have in 2010 when a sudden mudslide caused serious damage to homes in East Highland.
Public Works officials urged residents to take precautions ahead of the first winter storms. Information on flood and debris-flow preparedness is available on the county’s flood preparedness website, prepare.sbcounty.gov.
