Avocado Growers Bear Brunt of Gap Fire’s Devastating Effects
Countywide, the blaze caused $1 million in crop damage, although the multiyear cost could be much higher than that.
When Justin and Cheryl Bosio learned a couple of weeks ago that a brushfire was burning in a canyon about five miles away from their hillside avocado ranch near Goleta, they weren’t too worried.
“Originally, we thought they’ll get this out before it gets to us because it seemed so far away,” Cheryl Bosio said. “Then the winds picked up.”
The Gap Fire also cooked 25 acres of the Bosios’ avocado trees in San Jose Canyon off North Patterson Avenue. It amounted to a tenth of their crop, at a total cost of about $100,000.
“Because we were ready for it, it really wasn’t that nerve-wracking,” said Justin Bosio, the fourth-generation owner of the property. His groves were also damaged by the Painted Cave Fire in 1990.
Countywide, the Gap Fire burned 200 acres of the 8,300 acres of avocado trees that are grown by farmers, Agriculture Commissioner William Gillette said.
The fire’s sweep affected 11 growers, costing them a total of $1 million in crop damage this year, Gillette said. But the total multiyear cost could hit $9.5 million, after taking into consideration all the necessary replanting, as well as the fact that it takes several years for new trees to bear fruit.
Because President Bush declared as a disaster area Santa Barbara County and other portions of California hit by wildfires this year, Gillette said there is a good chance federal aid will come to the growers in the form of either subsidies or low-interest loans.
Avocados are considered a major crop in Santa Barbara County — the 10th largest of the 100 or so grown here. (Strawberries are the largest.) Last year, avocados had a gross value of $21 million in the county.
Gillette said avocados were the only crop hit because they tend to grow better on hillsides than fruit such as lemons.
Authorities said the orchards on Goleta’s perimeter were a godsend to the city’s residents, providing a buffer zone of water-soaked trees and brush-free terrain that helped stop the inferno in its tracks.
Indeed, on the Bosios’ foothills property, one can clearly see where the fire ran out of steam: Acres of burned-to-a-crisp trees and fried brush give way to pristine green vegetation.
However, that’s partly because Justin Bosio tried his own hand at firefighting. The Bosios say the flames raced across the hillside to their ranch in a matter of hours. While Cheryl Bosio packed up some belongings, her husband and a friend with a water truck headed toward a portion of the blaze that had begun to invade the property. Late at night, using the water truck and shovels, they managed to snuff out many small patches of flames before they could spread beyond control.
“He really worked hard to keep it away from the house,” she said. “We’re calling him the town hero right now because he really saved us.”
Noozhawk staff writer Rob Kuznia can be reached at .
» wrote on 07/18/08 @ 05:58 AM
Thank you for telling the heroic story of the Bosios struggle to protect their farm.
There are many farms along our foothills that have been in the same family for several generations.
The perseverance of these ranchers carries forward a fine tradition of stewardship of the land.
[Editor’s note: Thanks for the tip, Thad.]
» wrote on 07/18/08 @ 11:21 AM
The Goleta community dodged a bullet. Without the Agriculture land around our community, our town could have been destroyed. Build more homes? I don’t think so!
I am grateful to our neighbors who continue to farm and preserve the land. In a non-assuming way, they truly have become our heroes!
» wrote on 07/18/08 @ 11:49 AM
Yes, we are really lucky these farms and ranches are there. As someone who lives just a hill away… I was watching for flames, and was mighty glad for the big firebreak the orchards and farms provided.
We are a unique city to have farms and ranches abutting our subdivisions. Not only beautiful—as it turns out protective too!
» wrote on 07/18/08 @ 07:14 PM
How can we thank these farmers that through their industry helped save our neighborhood? Is there a fund set up to defray their losses? I live in the north Patterson area which was threatened by the wildfire. Because of the ag land behind our neighborhood I was able to come back to my home when the evacuation order was lifted. I want to thank the ag farmers in a meaningful way.
» wrote on 07/19/08 @ 10:04 AM
Hi, Justin and Cheryl,
I’m just glad you’re all alive to tell this horrendous story and pick up the pieces. Fires are too unpredictable and cause such devastation! I’ll keep praying for you as you start the tasks ahead of you now.
Carol
» wrote on 07/22/08 @ 06:02 PM
wahoo!!!! GO Uncle Justin and Sheldon!!!
» wrote on 07/23/08 @ 10:32 PM
HI Justin and Cheryl and kid’s glad to see you all our ok we will pray for all of you and the families and the worker this is a lot of work to rebuild the trees feilds and land good luck love you all