I have owned my own house in Malibu for over 29 years and have fought five fires right through my property. I also own a ranch near Palm Springs and recently saved it from the savage Sawtooth fire. I felt compelled to write this letter to the general public, as I believe many homes need not have been lost in the recent Southern California fires.
I have a small lake at my Malibu property and a pool at my ranch in the desert and I have fought each fire with this same water and two gas pumps with two separate hoses, each over 100 feet, one in each direction to cover both the front and back of my home. For those who do not have access to a pool, a Jacuzzi or a pond, a thousand-gallon tank can be put on the property and painted or put underground. (Check with your local building department for codes.) Certainly, some smaller lots will not accommodate this.
Additionally, hazard masks complete with cylinders (such as those used by painters), hard hats and wraparound goggles can be purchased at most hardware stores. I found these to be excellent in dealing with the smoke and ash. If you have scuba certification, a small air tank can be put on your back and you can breathe freely. One can also purchase fire retardant clothing through computer Web sites.
Bill Raffin