To the editor: The Randall Protect is a decidedly blended blessing to the neighborhood (“After 27 years fighting to change oil field into massive Orange County nature preserve, initial plans released,” Might 23). The birds and four-legged neighbors are welcome, however the many unlawful campers represent a critical risk of wildfires. The overlapping jurisdictions of metropolis, county and fireplace district complicate accountability for public security. Additional, the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority that now holds title to the property doesn’t but have management over it as a result of Aera Power, the oil firm chargeable for cleanup of the property, nonetheless controls it. Aera Power is just not evicting trespassers nor even stopping tenting.
The California fireplace marshal has now designated the realm of the Randall Protect, and the adjoining properties and companies, a average fireplace threat. We anticipate elevated householders’ insurance coverage prices. Throughout the previous couple of weeks, a wildfire began on the Randall Protect and unfold to Orange County’s Talbert Park space earlier than it was put out. Fortuitously, there was no wind to unfold it to our properties. We’re acutely conscious that July 4th is simply weeks away and that fireworks, in addition to campfires, can set off wildfires.
I urge all events, particularly Aera Power, to eject the campers and hold trespassers out earlier than we undergo an actual tragedy.
Kenneth Smith, Costa Mesa
