It is that time of year again when the leaves begin to turn, children return to school, and pre-season face painters prepare for yet another hopeful pigskin season. Unfortunately, it is also that time of year; particularly for us southern Californians, when the Santa Ana winds erupt and fire fuel levels peak. We caught an early glimpse of the 2014 wildfire season potential earlier this year in May when multiple fires broke out in San Diego County. And, more recently, we have been watching CAL Fire battle several fires up in northern California for the past few weeks. The experts agree that the prognosis for this wildfire season is not a good one; however, there is consensus that what you do in order to make your home more resilient from this threat matters significantly. Cal Fire explains what these resilience-building measures are in their “Ready, Set, Go” campaign that can be watched in a public service announcement at the following link: http://www.readyforwildfire.org/
The PSA goes in to greater detail but below are some key points of the “Ready, Set, Go” campaign:
Ready:
• Creating defensible space around your home.
• Hardening your home by using fire resistant construction materials on the exterior walls, roofing, and rain gutters.
• Cleaning up leaf-litter and brush in and around the plants and shrubs next to your home.
Set:
• Create a Wildfire Action Plan with your family identifying escape routes, meeting locations, & what you will bring with you when you evacuate, etc.
Go:
• Stay informed by watching the news/listening to the radio.
• Evacuate and evacuate early once warning has come from fire/law enforcement officials.
Because Orange County’s geography is so diverse, many of us do not live in an area that is necessarily prone to wildfire danger; however, the majority of us probably know somebody that does. So, take a moment to educate yourself on wildfire resilience at the website above so you can provide some safety tips to that friend or relative the next time you speak with them. The website also provides recommendations for creating a Wildfire Action Plan Checklist. Like all natural disasters, wildfires are an inevitable part of life; however, it’s what we choose to do (or neglect to do) that influences how we may be impacted.
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UC Irvine Police Department
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