Rosena Ranch Resident Details Outage Hazards To The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors

rs

Dear San Bernardino County Supervisors,
I am writing to bring to your attention a critical issue that my family and neighbors have been facing due to the extended power outages in our community. In January 2025 alone, electrical power has been shut off for a total of 190 hours (so far) as a precautionary measure due to high winds and fire danger. While I understand the importance of these measures to ensure public safety, the prolonged outages have created severe hardships for vulnerable residents in our area.
In my case, my 80-year-old mother, who is handicapped, relies on an electric chair stair lift to move between levels of our home. She also depends on power for showering, cooking, and accessing her medical alert devices. During the outages, I had no choice but to relocate my family to ensure her safety and well-being.
Additionally, one of my neighbors, who is battling stage 4 cancer, relies on an electrical oxygen machine and is without central heating during these outages. The lack of power has exacerbated his already fragile health, and as a result, he has been readmitted to the hospital.These situations highlight the dire consequences of prolonged power outages on vulnerable individuals in our community. I kindly urge the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to explore and implement solutions to mitigate the impact of these outages. Possible measures could include:
* Providing backup power resources, such as portable generators or battery systems, to residents with medical and accessibility needs.
* Establishing emergency shelters equipped with power, heat, and essential services for vulnerable individuals during outages.
* Collaborating with utility companies to prioritize power restoration for households with critical medical needs.
* Collaborating with county fire to enforce fire defensible space laws to 100 feet from a structure which in some areas only have twenty-six feet from a structure. The board of supervisors-approved county development plans called for a 200-foot defensible space.
Your attention and assistance with this matter would provide much-needed relief and security to residents like my family and neighbors who are disproportionately affected by these outages. Please let me know how I might be able to assist in any discussions or initiatives to address this urgent issue.
Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
John Marquez

John Marquez is a resident of Rosena Ranch, a community at the convergence of Lytle Creek to the west and the northern tips of Fontana, Rialto and San Bernardino, near Verdemont, Devore Heights, Muscoy and Arrowhead Farms. The name Rosena references a livestock and citrus farm that was owned by Azariel Blanchard Miller, the founder of Fontana.

Leave a Reply