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Palomar Mountain Gets Fire-Fighting Tool

A special fire-resistant gel will give more than 300 Palomar Mountain families an extra tool to save their homes. San Diego County is providing the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department about $1

Palomar Mountain Gets Fire-Fighting Tool

A special fire-resistant gel will give more than 300 Palomar Mountain families an extra tool to save their homes.  San Diego County is providing the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department about $12,000 to buy the gel. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

Palomar Mountain Fire Department Chief George Lucia says the fire-resistant gel works like a shield to protect homes in areas prone to wildfire.

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Lucia: What we hope will happen and what history has shown is that fire passes through and what this gel has been applied to remains moist, doesn't allow any of the heat to transfer in, and the house or the item doesn't catch fire.

The gel is sprayed on with a garden hose. After the fire threat has passed, the gel is easily washed off. Lucia says homeowners will be trained sometime next month on how to use the gel. He says the potential for fire in the mountain community has increased because of dry conditions and dead vegetation.  Ed Joyce, KPBS News.