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Neighbor says Wolf Reservoir construction left fire hazards; DWP says it remedied problems after fire department notice
Summary
An adjacent resident, Robert Chernow, told the DWP board the Wolf Reservoir construction site posed fire risks including a large acetylene tank, gas cans and tall vegetation; DWP staff said crews trimmed landscaping and removed fuel cans after a Big Bear Fire Department notice in late June and that the site passed a subsequent inspection.
A Big Bear Lake resident told the Department of Water and Power board that construction activity at the Wolf Reservoir site created ongoing fire hazards, and DWP staff described actions taken after a fire department notice.
Robert Chernow, who identified himself during public forum as living adjacent to Wolf Reservoir, told the board that in May he found a large acetylene tank "just feet away from my home" and that he called the fire department because "these tanks are known to explode." He said his family left planned visits out of concern, and that during June he observed vegetation up to 6–8 feet tall, construction debris and gasoline cans left exposed. "This is unacceptable to those of us who have homes there," Chernow said, and said he filed a complaint with the fire department, which later issued citations.
Staff responded that the city and Big Bear Fire Department raised concerns on June 23–25. Daniel (district engineer/project manager) told the board DWP crews went to the site the next morning, trimmed landscaping and removed two empty diesel cans; the fire department inspected the site and "said that it met their expectations" after remediation. Daniel said the contractor keeps fuel in the pickup truck now and that crews patrol and clean the work area on roughly a weekly basis, with short-term messiness explained by current footing and rebar work.
Board members asked how the contractor would be held accountable for maintaining the site; Daniel said crews and DWP staff are on-site daily, and supervisors are monitoring refueling practices and debris removal. The item was informational only; no formal enforcement action or new directive was adopted during the meeting.
