The California drought has created extreme fire danger and decreased water reserve levels in parts of Southern California.
San Bernardino County firefighters and inmate work crews spent Monday clearing dry branches and brush in Lytle Creek.
"I don't want the darn place to go up (in flames.) That's for sure," Lytle Creek resident John Bartfay said.
Moisture content levels for vegetation are at all-time lows.
"The energy release when fire gets into those areas has been significantly higher," Kyle Hauducoeur of San Bernardino County Fire.
The drought has also led to significantly lower water reserves. Lake Mathews in Riverside County can hold 182,000 acre feet of water at full capacity. It currently has about 78,000 acre feet.
"We've actually been here for the last 11 years, this is probably one of the worst times we've seen it," Lake Mathews resident Natalie Brewer said.
- Running Dry: California Drought Coverage
Some residents in Hemet and Temecula Valley are taking advantage of water wise programs in which they get two dollars a square foot to tear up water-guzzling grass and replace it with water-conserving landscaping such as plants and tree material that “can actually be weaned off water” after a few years.
