10 Year Freeway Complex Fire Commemoration Event This Weekend

Marking the ten-year anniversary of the Freeway Complex Fire, which roared through much of Carbon Canyon and nearby areas in November 2008 and particularly timely given the massive wildfires that have burned throughout the state this month, Hills for Everyone, the Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council and the Chino Hills State Park Interpretive Association are sponsoring a commemoration event of the fire this weekend.

Held Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chino Hills State Park Discovery Center at 4500 Carbon Canyon Road in Brea, the free event includes exhibits of photos, videos, memorabilia, posters and other materials documenting and discussing the fire.  Fire fighting vehicles will be displayed by the Chino Valley and Brea-Fullerton fire departments.

On Saturday from 1-2 p.m., there will be a special presentation by Nature of Wildworks, which will bring native wildlife to vividly show first-hand the impacts the fire, which burned more than 30,000 acres (including 95% of the state park) in four counties and destroyed over 280 houses, had on wildlife.

Sadly, devastating wildfires are becoming a normal feature of life in California as climate change, rapid population growth, and expansion of housing in wildland areas continue.  Carbon Canyon is a microcosm of the risks the interplay of these three facets pose, especially as a new 107-unit project, Hidden Oaks, is expected to be brought before the City of Chino Hills in 2019.  This event will bring needed attention to what wildfires mean, not just in looking back, but in seeing forward.