With the Removal of the Rohr Park Horse Arena, No Large-Animal Evacuation Site Will Exist

Horse was left behind in this fire | Photo by Gene Blevins/Reuters

Yesterday was the City of Chula Vista Council Meeting. Bonita resident Darrell Jett spoke before the Mayor and Council. Here is what Mr. Jett said:

[🔥 2.5-Minute Speech — With Request to Pull Item 5.3 & Fire Chief Confirmation]

"Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers,

My name is Darrell Jett. I’m here to speak on Item 5.3, the adoption of the Building, Fire and Wildland-Urban Interface Codes.

Before I begin, I respectfully request that a Councilmember pull Item 5.3 from the Consent Calendar.

There is a serious wildfire-evacuation issue that the public has not been informed of, and it deserves open discussion.

For decades, the Rohr Park equestrian arena has been a major large-animal wildfire evacuation site. It was used during the 2003 Cedar Fire and the 2007 Witch Creek Fire.

Families evacuating from Bonita, East Chula Vista, Otay and Jamul had minutes...not hours.

Rohr Park was the closest safe inland refuge — fenced, level, and trailer accessible.

Because of how important this history is, I contacted the Bonita–Sunnyside Fire Protection District, whose station directly overlooks Rohr Park, and asked them whether they had been consulted about the possible loss of this emergency site.

Their written response was:

'No, the BSFPD has not been contacted regarding this plan.'

'We have not identified any alternative evacuation sites.'

'Taking away this site as an evacuation option would complicate future incidents.'

'BSFPD would be happy to coordinate with Chula Vista on large-animal emergency evacuation plans.'

This is directly from Fire Chief Mike Sims.

So this is no longer community memory.

This is an official confirmation from the fire authority closest to Rohr Park that:

🔥  They were not consulted

🔥  There is no replacement evacuation site

🔥  Removing this arena complicates wildfire operations

🔥  And the District is ready to coordinate with Chula Vista

This aligns with the City’s own wildfire findings in CVMC 15.38, which state:

🔥 Chula Vista’s climate and Santa Ana winds cause fires to “ignite easily and spread rapidly under wind-driven conditions”

🔥 Our canyons and narrow roadways slow evacuation and impede emergency response

🔥 And the region has endured the Cedar Fire, Harris Fire, Border 2 Fire, and over 700 vegetation fires in recent years

Given these hazards, and given Fire Chief Sims’ confirmation that no alternative evacuation site exists, I am again respectfully asking that Item 5.3 be pulled so this body can discuss the loss of a proven wildfire-evacuation resource before approving fire-safety codes.

Rohr Park protected families before.

It will be needed again.

Thank you."

Darrell Jett | November 18, 2025 | City of Chula Vista Council Meeting

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