This is to clarify my understanding of how the Idyllwild Water District and the Idyllwild Fire Department must proceed on any and all will serve letters issued to Idyllwild Arts until the 4-inch water line and the 300,000-gallon water tank are operational.
It has been made clear by the county in its environmental document that there currently is not enough water flow with the current 3-inch line for adequate fire suppression for Idyllwild Arts and for all the other residents in the “Tollgate zone.” In order to provide adequate fire protection the 4-inch line and the tank must become operational.
In the meantime, the fire department has assured some of the nearby residents that pumping water from the swimming pool at Idyllwild Arts will provide adequate and timely water to put out any fire at Idyllwild Arts and nearby residences.
The community, and especially the residents who currently do not have fire suppression protection, sincerely hope that before the water district issues any will serve letters to Idyllwild Arts, the public will be provided a full and complete Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
These should be backed up by copies of all documents from the water district and the fire department showing either that the 4-inch line and 300,000-gallon water tank are fully operational or that the water in the Idyllwild Arts pool will be able to be pumped and transported in a timely manner to any fire within a certain distance from the pool.
Absent this showing in a MND, no will serve letters should be issued to Idyllwild Arts. I make this request for all of Idyllwild, not just the Tollgate area.
As we know, under not uncommon hot, dry and windy conditions, one uncontrolled structure fire could lead to the entire community burning.
Susan Nash
Idyllwild
