Sonoma Valley residents are sounding the alarm over what they call a “wall of silence” from the state regarding fire hazards at the shuttered Sonoma Developmental Center.
According to the Press Democrat, with summer heat drying out the region, the property is currently out of compliance with fire codes due to waist-high dry grass and broken fire hydrants.
While the California Conservation Corps has done some recent mowing, neighbors say the efforts are “too little, too late” and fear the site could spark the next major wildfire. The state claims they are working on water line breaks as they arise, but local fire officials warn that much more needs to be done to clear hazardous vegetation.
If the state doesn’t step up, the county may take the unprecedented step of placing a lien on the property to force a cleanup.