Fire Threat Fueled by Heavy Rainfall, Officials Warn : Safety: Homeowners are urged to cut away all brush surrounding their house following recent rains.

Fire prevention agencies throughout San Diego County say the recent heavy rainfall may have ended the drought, but that it also produced enough grass to pose a dangerous fire season.

“The grass has provided a lot of fuel for fire in the canyon areas due to the extra rain,” said Thom Morris, a fire engineer for the San Diego Fire Department.

Greg Greenhoe, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said homes located below a hill are in less danger of being hit by a wild fire, but people living on top of a hill should be aware that canyon fires spread fast.

“The best way to explain canyon fires is that it is like the flame of a candle,” Greenhoe said. “If you put your finger at the top of the candle flame, it burns very hot and not toward the sides or the bottom.”

Greenhoe urged homeowners to clear away brush at least 40 feet around their homes and recommended that farms and ranches in remote areas avoid burning debris because of the potential for winds to whip a fire out of control.

Steven Robertson, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry, warned that residents should evacuate and not try to combat fires with a garden hose if the flames are close and the wind is strong.

“If the homeowners have cleared away all the brush from their homes at the proper distances, they are giving firefighters a chance to battle a canyon fire,” Robertson said.

Morris said every year has different fire factors.

“Our biggest concern is in the canyon areas where some of the conditions lend themselves toward disaster, such as seen in Normal Heights during the big fire they had in 1985,” Morris said. “We lost 60 to 70 homes in Normal Heights.”

Suggestions for canyon fire safety:

* Cut away all brush and grass down to 2 inches for a distance of 40 feet from your home. For information regarding brush management, call 533-4341.

* Thin or trim heavier brush and natural vegetation by 40% for the next 80 feet or until the end of your property line. This will reduce the potential fuel load for fire.

* Properly dispose of all brush and grass you have cut down.

* Daily rubbish should be disposed of properly at your house.

* Do not dump debris into the canyons.

* Keep lawn chairs, umbrellas, and other canvas furniture that can be easily ignited by sparks a safe distance from home structures.

* Keep matches and cigarette lighters out of the reach of children.

* Do not allow children to play in and around canyons.

* If you see smoke or flames, call 911.

For further information, call the San Diego Fire Department at 533-4341.