The Gap Fire might be nothing but ashes now, but that doesn’t mean it’s history. Santa Barbara County Supervisors Janet Wolf (2nd District) and Brooks Firestone (3rd District) will host a community forum starting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 11 to discuss the recent fire, its damage to hillsides and forest areas, and what the public can expect as a result during the upcoming winter season.
At the meeting, the supervisors and county staffers will give residents general information about damages and what property owners and residents can do to prepare for possible flooding this winter.
Over the next few weeks, Goleta will also be scheduling community meetings to discuss the fire’s impact on individual neighborhoods, where more focused information can be provided. Dates, times, and locations will be made available on the city’s Web site, www.goleta.govoffice.com.
The Sept. 11 meeting will be at San Marcos High School, at Turnpike and Hollister Avenue, in Santa Barbara. Representatives from several county departments—including the Office of Emergency Services, County Flood Control District, County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, and the U.S. Forest Service—will join the supervisors.
“It’s always important after an incident such as the Gap Fire to bring people together to assess our emergency response and learn from one another,” Supervisor Wolf said in a press release from the county.
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2008.