Local battalion chief urges bigger defensible space after erratic fire behavior

For the record, Ryan Whitlock, battalion chief with Dragon Meadows Fire and Rescue, told the advisory panel that the recent series of wildfires produced unusually erratic behavior and posed a high risk to outlying communities. He summarized July calls in the area — “we've gone 16 medicals out here, 5 wildland fires… 1 structure fire, 1 hazardous situation” — and described the community response during evacuation orders.