It has been 59 years since a wildfire burned through Green Valley. In 1967, a fire that started near the Ramona Airport, driven by strong Santa Ana winds, destroyed 16 homes in our community. Photos from that time show a very different landscape. Since then, the number of homes and the amount of vegetation have increased dramatically.
We were fortunate during the Cedar Fire in 2003 and the Witch Fire in 2007. Small shifts in the wind pushed those fires past Green Valley instead of into it. That luck may not hold next time, and we cannot afford to be complacent about the risk. Beyond the usual recommendations for vegetation management on your own property, we strongly encourage residents to think through their evacuation plans now, before a fire starts. For those living in Green Valley Highlands, a fire coming from the northeastleaves only two exit routes: Martincoit Road and Stone Canyon Road. Martincoit could be closed early in an active fire.
GVCA has raised concerns with the City about unmaintained palm groves in the Green Valley area. If you have a concern about a fire risk, we encourage you to contact the City of Poway.