FAQ

How catastrophic will a fire be in drought-stricken areas, if one starts?
Under normal conditions (low to moderate wind and relatively cool, damp weather) a fire in drought stricken areas should be able to be controlled by firefighters. However, with intense winds and extremely hot and dry weather, a fast moving, catastrophic wildfire is possible.

What does it mean to reduce hazards around private homes? There is confusion about what to do — keep needles on the ground to hold in moisture or get rid of needles to reduce fire hazard?
It is safe to leave two inches of needles on the ground to preserve the moisture;. four inches or thicker need to be removed per County Ordinance 3586. Please see the Defensible Space section of this website

How do I get my neighbors to get rid of their hazardous trees and brush? Are people being cited for this?
Report the concern to the Fire Marshal at (909) 386-8400. If the property owners are cited, they will have 30 days to remove the hazard.

What damage has happened in our forest?
The severity of the drought, compounded by the bark beetle epidemic, have increased dead and dying vegetation at an unprecedented rate. Many trees are infected and dying with other parasites and diseases, but compounded by the drought. The drought-related mortality and the extremely dry environmental conditions have caused a hazardous condition. This dead vegetation will create additional fuel, enhancing the fire hazard for many years to come, even in “normal” fire seasons.

What is killing my pine trees?
The combination of water stress (drought) and several species of pine beetles, plus warmer-than-normal weather. The trees are weakened by lack of water, allowing pine beetles to attack the trees, whose defense system is unable to reject the attack. The warm weather enables the beetles to reproduce in large numbers. The large numbers of beetles kill the trees quickly.

What type of pine trees are affected the most?
Coulter pines (big-cone pines) and ponderosa pines are affected by Western pine beetles, one of the most aggressive insects. The drought, in combination with other insects and diseases, is also killing sugar and Jeffrey pines, white fir and incense cedars.

How do I decide that my trees are dead?
We are talking about conifers (pines, firs and cedars) with needles and cones. Trees that are completely reddish to all brown are dead. These trees should be removed when they start to change color. If the tree is removed before the next generation of pine beetles emerge, those insects will not be able to attack other green trees.

Will my trees turn green after a good rainy season?
Conifers that turn brown are dead. No amount of water or fertilizer will help them return to a healthy condition. Oaks and many broad-leaved deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall. During periods of severe water stress, they may lose their leaves earlier than normal.

What do I do with the dead trees after they are cut?
We recommend having a tree removal company remove the tree and all branches immediately from your lot. The quick removal of a dying tree may prevent surrounding trees from becoming infested. Once the tree starts turning brown, have the tree removed immediately.

Can’t you mark trees for people to come in and cut themselves (for firewood)?
On private property, the homeowners are liable for anything that happens on their property. We suggest only using licensed contractors for tree removal and tree trimming. On public land, the Forest Service is currently cutting dead trees in some of our highest priority areas. For more information, contact your local Fire Safe Council or the San Bernardino County Hazardous Tree Abatement Program.

Can we spray an insecticide to get rid of the beetle?
No. There are insecticides that will kill bark beetles, but getting the insecticides in contact with the beetles is a problem. Trees can be sprayed prior to attack (which will kill beetles trying to attack the tree, and thus prevent successful attack by bark beetles) or after attack (which will kill the beetles when they emerge from the tree). Bark beetles infesting trees in the mountains of southern California are native, the numbers of beetles killed by either method does not make a dent in the population as a whole. Thus a better method of preventing tree mortality from the bark beetles is to keep the trees growing vigorously.

What happens to the beetle within the fallen trees? Don’t they spread?
If there are live beetles in the trees when they fall, and if birds and other predators don’t eat them, they will emerge and fly. Chances are that a small percentage of them will find and successfully occupy another host tree. If there are many stressed or dying trees in the environment, a higher proportion of the emerging beetles will find suitable habitat.

What is the life cycle of the beetle?
Some species in Southern California have one or possibly two generations a year (e.g., Jeffrey pine beetle), while others have several generations (e.g., California five-spined Ips, western pine beetle). Another species, the California flatheaded borer (not a bark beetle), also kills pines in southern California, but has a quite different and complex life cycle.

Is there a conspiracy? Were bark beetles dumped in the San Bernardino National Forest area by somebody trying to harm mountain residents and visitors?
No. Bark beetles and other tree-killing forest pests are a natural part of the San Bernardino National Forest. The outbreak of beetles is due to an unprecedented four -year drought. The most effective natural enemy of the bark beetle is tree sap. Because the trees are so parched, they are unable to produce the sap that kills the beetles, thus creating an epidemic number of tree killing bark beetles.

How long will a tree remain standing once it has been infested by bark beetles?
The length of time that an infested tree will remain standing is variable. Generally, the larger the tree is, the longer it will stand. Many trees may fall or drop large branches or treetops within two to fives years of mortality, especially if the tree has root or trunk rot. The species of tree is a determining factor as well. Coulter pine and white fir deteriorate and break up faster than ponderosa and Jeffrey pine, sugar pine, incense cedar and big-cone Douglas fir.

How can I tell the difference between drought stress and bark beetle infestation?
Bark beetle infested tree foliage turns straw-colored in at least one section of the tree or quite often the whole tree. A drought stressed tree has very slow growth and is often killed by other parasites, such as the flat-headed borer, dwarf mistletoe and root disease.

Have other communities dealt with a problem like this in the past? In those communities, did they solve the problem by just thinning the trees?
The “problem” in the San Bernardino Mountains appears to be a “bark beetle outbreak,” but in fact it is the stressed condition of the forest. The forest is experiencing an unprecedented drought. In addition, due to a lack of forest health management practices on private and public lands (i.e., lack of prescribed burning), many trees are infected with a parasitic plant, dwarf mistletoe, and/or with root disease, exacerbating the drought stress. Moreover, man-caused stresses stemming from heavy recreational uses, development and social values of trees have contributed to the forest’s current condition.

If stands of trees had been thinned prior to the start of the drought, there would have been more water and other resources available for each tree. In the early 1980s an area on Tunnel Two Ridge (west of Lake Arrowhead) was thinned for demonstration purposes. During the drought of the early 1990s few trees died within the thinned area, although tree mortality was high on private land surrounding the thinned area.

Why is MAST’s focus shifting from removing dead and diseased trees to thinning live trees?
The focus of the MAST abatement program has shifted to the thinning of live trees (green and ladder fuels) to restore the health of the forest and further reduce the fire danger. Green trees and vegetation, especially those with low moisture content and high oil content, also burn and can fuel a fire. Ladder fuel consists of small trees and vegetation growing under mature trees, allowing flames to climb into the higher tree branches and cause crown fires in the treetops. By thinning live trees, it frees up more water and other resources to restore the vigor of the remaining trees, which will be more able to ward off a beetle infestation and will be more resistant to fire. A thinner forest is also more park-like in appearance and more closely resembles the natural forest of centuries past.

Why did the Forest Service not do anything about this problem years ago when we started seeing beetles kill trees?
A prolonged drought is stressing trees significantly. The problem is not so much that these native insects are in the forest killing trees stressed by disease and other factors, but that so much of the forest is overstocked. A better question would be “Why is the forest overstocked?” Because of the need to protect private property and formerly held views about protecting trees, forest fires have been suppressed in the San Bernardino Mountains for over 100 years. The result is that seedlings, which would have been killed by fire under a natural regime, have survived, and the forest is much denser than what average rainfall can support. In addition, every year’s growth adds more biomass to the forest, increasing the need for water. In an unmanaged forest, insects, pathogens and fire would continuously or sporadically (fire) continue to thin the growing stands. There is a recognized need for thinning stands to make them drought, pest and, to some extent, fire resistant, but the San Bernardino National Forest has not had funds available to do the work. (The above response applies to both private and public land.)

If I have a tree that I know is infested, how can I get the OK and the help to get the tree to survive?
If the tree is infested with tree killing bark beetles, there is no treatment that can help it survive.

Is there anything a person can do to help trees survive?
Trees should be thinned out to reduce competition between trees for water, sunlight and other resources. Trees around homes should be treated with care: avoid damaging roots during construction, do not plant lawns or other high water use plants around the bases of the trees, etc.

Will watering trees in my yard help them survive?
Yes. If done properly, watering native trees in your yard can help them survive the drought and possibly fend off insect and disease attacks. Watering needs to be done at the drip-line of the tree (an imaginary line extending vertically from the edge of the canopy), not at the tree trunk. Watering at the trunk can promote root disease and further weaken the tree. “Deep watering” is the best way to water native trees. This entails a deep, slow soaking done at intervals such that the soil surface (down about 6 inches deep) dries out between watering. Watering too often is unhealthy — remember, these trees are adapted to infrequent rain. During the summer, the best time to water is after dark because that allows the water to soak deeper and the soil moisture levels to stay high for longer periods of time. Please remember to follow your local water district’s watering restrictions.

How can I keep my trees alive and healthy?
See above guidelines about watering trees. Additionally, the trees should be thinned so that the number of trees is reduced to provide adequate growing space. The number of all plants should be no more than the site can support. Foresters, arborists, and horticultural consultants can help a homeowner decide what the site can support.

What is the average cost for bringing down a tree on private property?
$1000 to $1500 per tree, although trees that threaten to fall on a house (due to proximity) may cost much more.

Is it true that any private tree removal company in California must be licensed? What happens if they’re not licensed? How does the public know if they are truly licensed or just faking it?
Yes, they must be licensed. If the tree-care worker is not licensed, the tree removal company may be cited and fined. Citizens should ask to see the timber operator’s license, liability insurance and/or workman’s compensation insurance certificates. It is important for the homeowner to understand that the homeowner will be held personally liable for expenses from any injuries attained by a tree-care worker that is in the homeowner’s employment, unless the tree-care worker has his or her own medical insurance. The homeowner’s standard insurance policy will not cover such expenses, in most cases. Citizens can check with local county and city government or fire departments to see if the contractor has obtained a business license.

What am I looking for when I request to see the contractor’s Insurance Certificate, California License and Workers Compensation?
Any contractor’s license can be checked for status and validity at www.cslb.ca.gov.

Will my homeowner’s policy cover the tree removal or damage caused by the tree falling?
Most homeowner’s policies do not cover tree removal or damage caused by removal. You may be covered, however, if you are paying a premium for such coverage or are unaware of the hazard. Generally, homeowners are responsible for tree removal and property damage from falling trees.

Does code enforcement play a part in the tree removal?
No.

There are dead trees on San Bernardino National Forest property adjacent to my private property. The trees are posing a hazard to my family and I. I want them removed. How do I make that happen?
Contact the San Bernardino National Forest and inform them of the situation. Make sure you give your name, phone number, address (physical and e-mail) and description of the problem. The San Bernardino National Forest can be reached at (909) 382-2600.

Will applying a pesticide to my trees help them survive?
It is unclear whether or not any one pesticide will save a tree or group of trees. Because the beetles live under the bark, the beetles are naturally protected from direct contact with the pesticide. Many pesticide distributors claim that the pesticide will kill the beetle as it emerges from the tree. If true, every square inch of the tree must be sprayed by the pesticide to be effective.

If private property owners choose to use pesticides on their property, the Mountain Area Safety Task Force recommends consulting a professional arborist prior to doing so and/or hiring a professional pesticide applicator to do the work.

Should I buy foam to protect my house in the event of a wildfire? If so, what kind?
There are a number of foam products on the market that have proven effective in wildfire situations. MAST does not endorse a specific brand, but does recommend research into systems designed for home use prior to purchasing.

What is Caltrans doing about the tree problem?
Caltrans maintains trees along state highways. Caltrans has been mapping the locations of dead trees and will continue to work with the California Department of Forestry (CDF) and San Bernardino National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) concerning problem tree removal. Caltrans does not remove any trees unless CDF and Forest Service approve. It may be difficult to identify which agency or private contractor you see working near roadways because workers uniforms are often the same color. To identify whether Caltrans is doing the work, look for the CT (Caltrans) logo.

Why does Caltrans close roads?
There are many reasons traffic controls can be necessary. One is to help ensure worker and public safety while a tree removal effort is underway.

Why not seed the clouds?
The idea of cloud seeding, according to the experts, was to place increased particulate material in the clouds in order to provide moisture molecules more avenues to turn into rain drops. There is no way to know if cloud seeding increases or has ever increased the amount of rain that would have fallen if the cloud seeding had not taken place. It is also a very costly and was one of the reasons the program was stopped.

Now that Governor Gray Davis has declared a state of emergency, how will it benefit private land/home owners?
It introduces the possibility of low-interest-rate federal loans to private homeowners; allows available state (CDF) resources to support emergency activities on private lands; reduces regulations with Caltrans; provides relief in tight air-quality restrictions for the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD); relief in AQMD Section 118 restrictions will help in the establishment of an air curtain destructor; streamline National Environmental Protection Act. It opens the opportunity for the state to present the disaster declaration to the federal government.

I want to buy a small mill and produce wood products such as furniture. How do I get access to wood, legally?
Contact timber contractors that are working in the area and make arrangements through them.

I just moved here because I heard you need forest workers. I want a job. Where do I go?
You can obtain a list of contractors that are working in the area from the San Bernardino County Fire Dept. and contact those businesses for employment; 909/386-8101

I own a licensed timber removal company and just moved into the area. How do I bid on a timber sale within the San Bernardino National Forest?
You can be added to the Forest Service bidders’ list to be notified of all timber sale bid opportunities and receive bid packages and information. If (and only if) you are a licensed operator, call Norma Bailey at 909-382-2779 to get on this list.

Why is Southern California Edison (SCE) concerned about the bark beetle problem and what is SCE’s role?
Dead or dying trees pose a danger to local residents, and dead trees near electrical lines pose a threat to electric service reliability for the affected areas. In April 2003, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) directed SCE and other utilities in the affected counties to take all reasonable and necessary actions to remove trees that could pose safety hazards and cause electric service interruptions by falling on electrical lines. For SCE, that could total more than 350,000 trees. Pursuant to this order, SCE has developed a comprehensive program to remove dead or dying trees in the affected areas within its service territory. The company is committed to performing its work as quickly and safely as possible. The company also is committed to keeping customers and major stakeholders in the affected areas informed of its activities and progress. SCE will also provide useful information to property owners and customers about their roles and responsibilities and how to cope during this long-term tree removal process.

What is SCE doing about removing the many trees killed by the bark beetle?
SCE maintains a commitment to safety and protecting the environment as we work with local state and governmental agencies (including local fire, police and U.S. department of forestry agencies) in tree removal efforts. We will continue our collaborative work with these agencies as SCE expects it will be involved with the removal of trees that are dead, dying or diseased, for several more years.

How will SCE’s tree removal efforts impact my community and my electric service?
In order for our tree removal crews to work safely and efficiently, in some instances it will be necessary to interrupt or shut down some power lines, in some cases more than once and possibly for more than 24 hours. Additionally, because of all the tree removal work expected in the affected areas, residents will have to deal with road closures, increased traffic and noise, worker vehicles, cranes, equipment, etc., while the work is being completed. We will try to notify you of our work activities so you can plan for them in advance. However, you should always be prepared for power outages because we may not always be able to provide advanced notification.

What should I do if my electric power goes out?
To better cope with any scheduled or unscheduled power outage, we advise our customers to:

• Check on the medical needs of family and friends.
• Use flashlights. Don’t use candles, which if used improperly, can start fires.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible during an outage. A well-filled, unopened freezer will keep food frozen for hours without electricity.
• Turn off all electrical equipment in use at the time of a service interruption, including sensitive electronic components. Leave one light bulb turned on to signal that power has been restored.
• Never connect a portable generator directly to an electrical line. State law requires that customers inform us when a generator is being used at a home or business. Call us at 1-800-655-4555.

Will customers in the affected communities be notified before planned power outages occur?
We will attempt to notify customers of scheduled tree removals and power outages before work begins. However, it may not be possible to provide advance notification in all instances, particularly in cases involving a significant potential hazard requiring urgent attention.

Will SCE remove trees on private property?
Yes, we will remove dead or dying trees that could impact our electrical lines, as determined by our inspectors.

Will SCE send a representative to my property to determine whether dead or dying trees have the ability to damage SCE facilities?
Yes. If you notice newly dead or dying trees on your property that could fall into our electrical lines, please contact us at 1-800-640-3652 and provide your name, address and phone number. We will send an inspector to determine if your tree(s) qualify for SCE removal.

What is meant by the reference to "trees that could impact our electrical lines?"
Any tree or any part of a tree that could fall into our electrical lines is a tree that could impact our lines. For example, the top portion of a 100-foot-tall tree rooted 70 feet from one of our electrical lines could fall right through the lines in a wind storm.

Should I wait to have SCE remove dead or dying trees on my property that can impact your electrical lines/facilities?
Removing dead or dying trees on your property is a personal decision each property owner must make. However, SCE will do this for you. Currently, SCE is removing dead or dying trees within approximately 3 weeks from the date we inventory a tree for removal. This timeframe is subject to change based on the tree mortality rate. If however, you elect to have your trees removed by someone other then SCE, you will do so at your cost. SCE recommends that if property owners choose this option, they use only licensed and qualified tree removal contractors to perform this work.

Customers who want us to temporarily drop electrical service wires between a pole and a dwelling or structure while having trees removed should call 1-800-640-3652. There is no charge for this service, but we need a minimum notice of five business days. If you observe a tree in contact with an electrical line that is strung between power poles, please call us.

How do I find a qualified arborist?
There are qualified arborists listed in the Yellow Pages and at reputable nurseries. The best way to ensure that you are dealing with a licensed arborist tree removal company is to contact the state licensing board at 1-800-321-2752 or www.cslb.ca.gov to confirm the company's license number and length of professional experience.

How will I know which trees SCE will remove?
SCE continually compiles an inventory of all dead or dying trees that are taller than their horizontal distance from our facilities. We are removing the trees as quickly as possible after they are inventoried. Prior to the tree removal, an SCE representative will attempt to notify properly owners or residents to inform them about their upcoming tree removal(s). If no one is home, a door hanger will be left with the name and phone number of the SCE representative who marked the trees.

Why are your foresters videotaping or filming my trees?
Though it may appear that way, our foresters really aren’t videotaping or filming trees. What you are seeing are foresters using instruments to calculate and measure the height of trees and their distance from our electrical lines, as part of our inventory process. This must be done if we are to accurately identify and remove those dead or dying trees that could impact our electrical lines.

How do I get on the list to have my trees that will impact SCE electrical lines removed by SCE?
You really don’t have to do anything. SCE conducts passes through all of the affected areas on a routine basis to inventory dead and dying trees. If you have dead or dying trees on your property, your trees will be included in the inventory. However, if you want to contact us regarding a dead or dying tree that could fall onto our electrical facilities, you can call 1-800-640-3652 and ask us to inspect it.

How long will it take SCE to remove all of the trees that could impact its lines?
This is very difficult to say as tree removal is a function of several factors, including forest health, drought conditions and bark beetle infestation. As trees continue to die, we expect this effort to take years to complete.

Will SCE replace the trees it removes?
Our primary focus is reducing the potential hazards posed by so many dead and dying trees threatening our electrical lines. However, we are willing and able to assist community and agency programs in identifying the types of trees that could be replanted near electrical lines in the affected areas. For those customers planning to plant trees, we prefer to see more small-stature trees in the developed areas around our facilities. Any replanting should be done according to the recommendations of state and federal foresters. For information on the best types of trees to plant around electrical lines, go to the tree trimming section of www.sce.com.

I just received a notice of a planned outage in my neighborhood. The timing is not good for me. How do I get it changed?
That won’t be possible, since SCE coordinates its tree removal efforts with local, state, and federal agencies. We will work as quickly as possible to minimize the inconvenience.

Why won’t SCE remove all of my trees?
On April 3, 2003, the CPUC ordered SCE to remove only those trees that pose a potential hazard to our electrical lines. Due to the hundreds of thousands of trees to be removed and strict removal schedules, our crews are not able to remove trees that do not pose a threat to our electrical lines.

When SCE crews are on my property removing trees that could impact its electrical lines, can you remove my other trees if I pay for the removal?
For the reasons stated in the previous answer, we cannot work out such arrangements. You will need to secure the tree trimming and removal services of an experienced, qualified arborist.

Does SCE’s removal of trees on private property relieve the property owner of any responsibility or legal obligation before the tree is removed?
No. Property owners continue to be responsible for their trees in accordance with federal, state, and local laws.

What will SCE do with trees it removes?
SCE’s tree removal contractor will dispose of all timber and residue quickly and efficiently.

Would SCE leave the felled wood on my property for firewood if I ask?
No, we will not leave felled wood behind. Any felled dead wood left behind would represent a potential fire hazard.

I removed trees from my property. Can I get reimbursed for my tree removal costs?
No. The Property Owner Tree Removal Reimbursement program was terminated effective May 29, 2008. SCE can no longer accept or process requests for tree removal reimbursement.

Who is Southern California Edison’s contractor for tree removals in the bark beetle-infested areas?
Southern California Edison’s contractor for tree removals is Phillips & Jordan (P&J), a Knoxville, Tennessee-based general and specialty contractor with more than 50 years of experience and a worldwide reputation. P&J was named the National Civil Works Construction Contractor of the Year 2002 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its performance as a prime contractor for the World Trade Center Forensic Recovery Operation following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. P&J has standing contracts for disaster recovery work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 21 states, including California.

How was Phillips & Jordan (P&J) chosen as Southern California Edison’s contractor for tree removals in the bark beetle-infested areas?
We solicited bids from 37 contractors to remove trees. Fifteen contractors submitted proposals. All were evaluated on a technical and commercial basis. A contract was awarded to P&J because of its proven track record and its extremely competitive bid.

Where can I get more information about SCE and its forestry-related programs?
Visit the SCE website: www.sce.com/Safety/treesandpower/barkbeetle or call 800-640-3652.

During a scheduled outage for tree removal, my refrigerator and freezer were off for more than 24 hours, and all of my food spoiled. How do I file a claim against SCE?
Based on these facts alone, this is not the kind of claim SCE typically honors, especially where customers are notified of scheduled outages. However, the company’s claims procedure is outlined at www.sce.com/CustomerService/request/claims, or you can call the SCE Claims Department at 800-251-3311 for instructions about filing a claim.

Claims and proper documentation can be sent to:

Southern California Edison
Attention: Claims Department
P.O. Box 900
Rosemead, CA 91770

You can also fax forms and documents to: 626-569-2573.

SCE’s acceptance of claim forms and documents does not imply that SCE will honor a claim. Each claim is considered on a case-by-case basis before SCE decides to accept or deny it.