May 4 is Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a campaign by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) encouraging people and organizations everywhere to come together on a single day to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks.
As fire season has become a year-round event in the western United States, it is critical that the public, private businesses, and governmental organizations like the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) remain vigilant in preventing fires.
On the Roads
The Toll Roads have been impacted by wildfires. Most recently, the 2020 Silverado Fire raged for nearly two weeks, burning 13,390 acres, forcing the evacuation of approximately 90,000 residents, shuttering schools, and temporarily closing portions of the 133, 241, and 261. In total, the fire destroyed three structures and damaged nine — including the Tomato Springs Mainline Toll Point buildings on the 241 and the Orange Grove Mainline Toll Point buildings on the133.
TCA has since repaired the fire damage and implemented additional fire preventive measures at the affected buildings based on recommendations from the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), including a 100-foot defensible space around all mainline toll plaza buildings, increased hardscape and limited landscaping using plants from OCFA’s approved list of plants that reduce potential fuel sources and are drought tolerant.
Off the Roads
For nearly 30 years, TCA has been actively completing fuel reduction activities at its environmental mitigation sites. This includes working with OCFA and the Agencies’ biologists and land management contractors to maintain access roads, remove dry vegetation that could lead to fire and create fire hazard break zones.
At our Live Oak Plaza Conservation Area in Trabuco Canyon, we use cattle grazing to help minimize wildfire risks and improve and maintain the quality of biodiversity at the site. The program’s pilot period completed in 2024 and was then adopted by the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency’s Board of Directors as a part of TCA’s Adaptive Weed Management Program. Cattle grazing is a fantastic way to reduce dry vegetation, encourage native vegetation growth, increase the use of the land by native wildlife species and limit chemicals used on the property.
In working to reduce our fire risks, TCA continues to take important proactive steps to prevent and mitigate wildfires. By doing our part, we are protecting our community; protecting and preserving wildlife and their native habitats; while continuing to work in collaboration with our first responders.
To learn how to protect you and your family during wildfire season, check out these tips from OCFA: https://www.ocfa.org/SafetyPrograms/ReadySetGo.aspx.
The Toll Roads Blog 