Last Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors provided conditional approval for the Lyons Canyon Ranch Project, which is located on unincorporated county land just west of Newhall. The Lyons Canyon Ranch project will consist of 92 single-family dwellings and a senior citizen housing facility that will include 93 units.

The OpEd piece written by Lynne Plambeck in The Signal on March 26 questioned several facets of the proposed development including developing in a very high fire zone.

Any new development in the very high fire hazard severity zones of Los Angeles County will have to comply with new building standards and the fuel modification program.

Recent studies have shown that most homes that are damaged or destroyed during wildland fires are not burned by direct flame impingement. More often these homes are destroyed by embers that traveled through attic vents, lodged under eaves or ignited flammable materials that surround the home after the flaming front has moved through.

New building standards adopted in 2008 require that structures that are built in the very high fire hazard severity zone areas meet ignition resistant standards that reduce vulnerability to embers.

In addition, the county's fuel modification program ensures that ornamental vegetation is maintained so that it does not allow fire to travel from native vegetation to structures.

During the review and approval process for this project, these issues were among the many that the Fire Department considered prior to recommending approval of this development. As we do with all proposed development projects in unincorporated areas, the

Lyons Canyon Ranch Project was reviewed by staff of the Fire Department to assure that appropriate conditions will be there to protect the safety of future residents, as well as the environment.