Wildfire Concerns Intensify Over Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan as Residents Question Evacuation Safety

As plans move forward for the proposed Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan, residents and local advocates are raising increasingly urgent questions about wildfire risk, evacuation safety, and the potential impact on surrounding communities.

Chris Little, President of the Rancho Cucamonga Preservation Society, is calling for greater transparency and public discussion regarding how a large-scale development in a known high fire hazard area would perform during a real-world wildfire event.

Rancho Cucamonga’s foothill region is no stranger to wildfire. The Etiwanda Fire burned more than 2,000 acres and forced the evacuation of approximately 1,650 homes. Notably, the location of that fire overlaps with the area proposed for the Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan.

“That fire wasn’t theoretical—it happened,” said Little. “Families were evacuated, neighborhoods were at risk, and emergency services were pushed to respond quickly. Now we’re talking about introducing thousands of additional homes into that same environment. Residents deserve clear answers about what happens the next time—not if, but when—a wildfire occurs.”

City planning documents identify the northern portions of Rancho Cucamonga as a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), where wildfire risk is elevated due to terrain, vegetation, and wind conditions. Recent destructive fires in areas such as Pacific Palisades have demonstrated how quickly fires can overwhelm even well-established communities.

“In California, we’ve seen fires move faster, burn hotter, and impact more homes than ever before,” Little added. “The question isn’t whether development can happen—it’s whether it’s being planned with real-world wildfire conditions in mind.”

Residents have raised concerns about evacuation routes, emergency access, and whether existing road networks could handle a large-scale evacuation involving both new and existing communities.

The Rancho Cucamonga Preservation Society emphasizes that these concerns extend beyond the proposed development footprint.

“When you add thousands of homes in a high-risk area, the impact doesn’t stop at the project boundary,” said Little. “It affects surrounding neighborhoods, evacuation timing, and overall public safety.”

For informational purposes, Kristine Scott currently represents District 2 on the Rancho Cucamonga City Council, where development decisions and planning considerations continue to be evaluated.

David VanGorden, who is running for the Rancho Cucamonga City Council District 2 seat against incumbent Kristine Scott and candidate DeJonae Shaw, emphasized the importance of addressing these concerns directly.

“This is about being honest with residents,” said VanGorden. “We all understand that growth will happen. The responsibility is making sure we’re not putting families in a position where they don’t have clear, safe options during an emergency. These are questions that should be answered before decisions are finalized, not after.”

Residents are encouraged to submit questions, concerns or comments by clicking Etiwanda Heights Neighborhood and Conservation Plan.