Ed. Note: This is the first in a four-part series looking at how three fires devastated the Santa Clarita Valley.)

The upcoming 10-year anniversary of the Buckweed Fires offers Santa Clarita residents a reminder of the ever-present fire danger in Los Angeles County, as blazes ravage the northern half of the state, as well.

KHTS News spoke with two officials who were present during the Buckweed Fires and remembered officials’ response to the Santa Clarita Valley disasters: Tony Bell, a spokesman for then-5th District Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich; and Donna Nuzzi, of the City of Santa Clarita, Emergency Services Division.

Nuzzi, director of Emergency Services for the city of Santa Clarita, said one of the challenges of the Buckweed Fire is that it hit the Santa Clarita Valley the week after a 24-car crash that killed three people shut down a major arterial tunnel for Santa Clarita commuters.

Related story: Major Truck Crash Closes I-5 Freeway

In fact, at the time, then-Assemblyman Cameron Smyth “toured the scene and informed KHTS, he’s asking Governor Schwarzenegger to declare the freeway a ‘Disaster Area,’ which would free-up immediate funding to assist in the recovery,” according to KHTS news reports at the time.

“The Buckweed Fire came on the heels of a previous incident the weekend prior (the I-5 Tunnel incident), causing the city to activate the Emergency Operations Center (or EOC) two consecutive weekends,” Nuzzi said.

She continued, “My job was to support the EOC and  the Director of Emergency Services (City Manager) during the EOC activation (response) through recovery… Challenges were to effect (implement) a safe evacuation when needed, and to provide the most accurate and timely emergency public information and warning to our community.”

Related: How An Elementary School Was Saved From The Buckweed Flames

Bell, communications deputy for then-Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Mike Antonovich (who now serves in the same capacity for current 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger), mentioned the massive effort undertaken by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which worked with several agencies to put out the blaze.

“As I recall, the Buckweed Fire was particularly fierce – over 20 homes lost and lots of evacuations. It was a hectic situation with lots of moving parts as fires often are,” Bell said. “We were concerned about arsonists and worked to coordinate with all of our county agencies, the sheriff, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office to assist with the effort. The Supervisor toured with the Governor through the command center and they held a press conference to update the public on the efforts to contain the fire, push evacuations and help people with large animals find shelter.

“As usual, County Fire attacked the blaze strategically and forcefully, worked to mitigate damage, protect life and property and ultimately were able to knock the fire out as quickly as possible.”  

Related story: Local Ranch Was Home To 60 Horses During Fires

In that week, three fires flanked the north, northwest and east sides of Santa Clarita, threatening residents, homes and businesses in the area.

In total, the three fires nearly destroyed an estimated 100,000 acres and cost close to $15 million between U.S. Forest Services and Cal Fire efforts, officials said.

Related:Mayor Speaks On Fires

Santa Clarita was surrounded by three fires during this time: The Ranch Fire burned to the north; the Buckweed Fire that burned to the east; and the Magic Fire that raged in the areas surrounding Six Flags Magic Mountain Theme Park.

Nuzzi reminded Santa Clarita residents of the importance of preparing for fires in and around their homes.

“It is extremely important to prepare for all hazards,” she said. “For house fires, according to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), 40 percent of all house fires start because of cooking — usually leaving pots or pans unattended on the stove while you run away to do something for ‘just a minute.’”

She offered steps residents can take as precautions to prepare for wildfires:

Outside the home:

• Create a defensible space around the home. Create a lean, clean and green zone by removing all flammable vegetation within 30 feet immediately surrounding the home.
• Landscape with fire-resistant plants.
• Maintain all plants with regular water and keep dead branches, leaves and needles removed.
• Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and remove vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles.
• Make sure your street address is visible from the street, especially at night.
• Remove dead leaves and needles from roof and gutters.
• Know multiple ways in and out of your community; know ways out of Santa Clarita—what does it mean for you if you go east, west, etc.
• Be prepared to evacuate your pets. Have emergency kits for your pet, whatever the size from cat to horse.

Inside the home:

• Keep a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen and garage.
• Store matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
• Clean fireplace chimneys and flues at least once a year.
• Keep clothes dryers in working order, remove lint after each use and clean lint out of the vent pipe yearly.
• Never leave a candle unattended.
• Never leave something cooking on the stove or oven unattended.
• Test smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries twice a year.
• Replace electrical cords that do not work, or are frayed.
• In the garage properly store flammable liquids in an approved container and away from ignition sources, such as pilot lights.
• Practice EDITH—Exit Drills in The Home— with your family.
• Make sure all family members understand how to STOP, DROP AND ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.
• Maintain a portable radio, flashlight and batteries.
• Maintain a comprehensive first aid kit.
• Keep copies of  important documentation records, have backups online, on a flash drive, or external drive.
• Establish a family reunification plan if you are separated from family members.
• Keep a backup charger ready for smartphones; also keep a hard copy of important numbers.
• Understand your home insurance coverage- i.e. does your policy cover include rebuilding to the current building code standards.
• Sign up with the City to receive emergency alerts here.

As Santa Clarita’s only local radio station, KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and sign up for KHTS email and text alerts today!