wildfire preparedness

CAL FIRE BURN DEMO IN SPRING VALLEY DRAMATIZES DIFFERENCE PREPARING YOUR HOME’S EXTERIOR FOR WILDFIRE CAN MAKE

By Alexander J. Schorr

Photos courtesy of CalFire

Image: Side-by-side demonstration shows how unprepared structure  surrounded by bark on left was rapidly engulfed in flames, unlike structure on right, with hardscaping

May 7, 2025 (Spring Valley) -- On May 6,  The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety partnered for a live burn demonstration at the County Fire Training Center on Campo Rd. in Spring Valley.

The event showcased a live fire presentation demonstration showing the effectiveness of mitigating wildfire damage for a prepared home compared to a home built from typical materials. Attendees observed burns in real time as experts highlighted ignition materials used, fire movement, and effective mitigation techniques.

This showed how small, proactive steps can significantly influence a home’s survival during a wildfire. Central to the demonstration was Zone 0—a five-foot perimeter around the home kept clear of flammable materials to prevent ignition from wind-driven embers.


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CAL FIRE PREPARES FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

As CAL FIRE positions resources and staff, residents are urged to prepare too

Source:  CAL FIRE

January 7, 2025 (Sacramento) - In response to a forecast of critical fire weather conditions, CAL FIRE has increased firefighter staffing and pre-positioned resources throughout Southern California. The National Weather Service predicts strong offshore winds, low humidity, and high fire risk from Tuesday through Thursday. 


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SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMUNITIES FROM WILDFIRES

East County News Service

Photo: 2003 Cedar Fire, via CalFire

June 9,2024 (San Diego’s East County )-- As we head into the summer months, there is increased potential for hot temperatures and strong winds in San Diego County. It is crucial for us to be ready for potential wildfires. East County is especially prone to wildfires, so each of us has an individual responsibility to prepare ahead of time and be ready to evacuate.

Supervisor Joel Anderson and his staff have have compiled a comprehensive list of online resources to aid in our collective efforts to safeguard you, your families, and our community.


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ARE YOU READY FOR WILDFIRES?

East County News Service

May 9, 2024 (San Diego) – Governor Gavin Newsom has declared May 5-11 as “Wildfire Preparedness Week.”  Noting the increasingly challenging wildfire seasons due to climate change, Newsom says his administration has made historic investments to increase forest management and decrease catastrophic wildfire risks, such as buying state-of-the-art firefighting equipment and technology.

Now he’s asking all Californians to take steps to protect their properties by creating defensible space around homes, hardening homes, developing wildfire action plans and teaming up to join Fire Safe Councils and Firewise Communities, which work to regularly assess wildfire risk and prioritize actions to address those risks.

“All of us have an essential role in protecting ourselves, loved ones, and communities from wildfire,” the Governor says. “During Wildfire Preparedness Week, I encourage all Californians to visit ReadyForWildfire.org to learn about steps we can take to prepare for wildfire season and help prevent loss of life and property. Together, we can create a more fire resilient California.”  Find tips at https://readyforwildfire.org/.

To stay ready for a wildfire or natural disaster at any time, the California Fire Foundation has just relaunched its Firefighters on Your Side community preparedness program at FirefightersOnYourSide.org to help Californians prepare their homes with defensible space, make a 5-minute evacuation planpre-pack essentials, and print a master checklist. . 


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IN THE LINE OF FIRE

An in-depth look at wildfire preparedness and those who stand in harm’s way

Story and photos by Josh Stotler

Photo:  flames race up hillside off Highway 94 in Dulzura

June 12, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- As the longer, warmer days of summer approach, San Diego braces for an all too familiar phenomenon: wildfire. According to Cal Fire, eastern San Diego County experiences an average of 192 wildland vegetation fires per year, burning 5,843 acres -- and that number is increasing with each new season. Thankfully, 95% of these incidents are contained at 10 acres or less, a target that local and state fire agencies strive to uphold. The thought of wildfire often strikes fear in the hearts of those who live in our backcountry and urban interface, where rural areas meet urban ones. This zone grows larger every year, as San Diegans build further and further into the eastern parts of the county.


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FROM THE FIRE CHIEF'S CORNER: MAY IS WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

 

May 15, 2023 (San Diego) - As fire officials, we preach this message every year “this will be our worst fire season ever!” Though we were not completely spared of wildfires, we have dodged the bullet the past two years of significant wildfires in Southern California. The third year won’t be a charm, especially with all the vegetation growing from recent rains.


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2023 COUNTY WILDLAND EXERCISE PREPS FIREFIGHTERS FOR FORECASTED ONE OF WORST FIRE SEASONS ON RECORD

Story & photos by Josh Stotler

May 3, 2023 (San Diego) - As the State of California kicks off wildfire preparedness week, San Diego County firefighters are also gearing up for what is forecasted to be one of the worst fire seasons on record, a trend that fire authorities know all too well. The 2023 Multi-Agency Wildland Preparedness Exercise took place May 1st through 3rd. This extensive training event celebrated its 20th evolution this year and has provided thousands of firefighters and fire officers with crucial real-world training in wildland firefighting.


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SDG&E ANNOUNCES NEW WILDFIRE SAFETY INITIATIVES AHEAD OF PEAK WILDFIRE SEASON

New Blackhawk helicopter, tactical command vehicle, evacuation planning map books, Information and Community Resource Centers and Wildlife Resiliency Fairs provide protection to customers

Source: SDG&E

August 8, 2019 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announces new upgrades to improve wildfire preparedness and help ensure the safety of everyone in the region. For more than a decade, the company has been adding new monitoring technology, upgrading existing infrastructure and working with first responders. Today, the company unveiled additional enhancements, including a second aerial firefighting asset, as the latest strategic improvement to help ensure public safety.


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TIME TO PREPARE FOR WILDFIRES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY

 

 

CAL FIRE and the County Fire Authority say don’t let the rainy weather fool you … fire season will be here before you know it. You should have a plan and be prepared now to protect yourself, your home and your community.

Learn more at readysandiego.org.


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WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE WORKSHOP OFFERED ADVICE THAT COULD SAVE YOUR HOME AND YOUR LIFE

 

 

By Jan Hedlun

Photo by Miriam Raftery: 2007 Harris Fire

September 11, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - Living in a rural backcountry is a blessing and a curse. The blessing is seeing an abundance of stars at night, wildlife, and the relative peace and quiet the city can't offer. The curse: some of that wildlife bites, and wildfires are a constant threat for most of the year.


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"PEACE OF MIND" 3-10 MINUTE EVACUATION PLAN FOR WILDFIRES PART 1

 

By Chris Whipple

 

July 12, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - Living in the back country provides many people a little bit of paradise that could never be found in a city.   Unfortunately, the worry about wildfires have caused lifetime residents to view their homes in the new light of "defensible space,” "insurance" and "preparedness.”  This is first of two articles to allow families to have "peace-of-mind" if disaster should strike. 


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WILDFIRES TO OUR NORTH - ARE YOU READY HERE?

 


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FREE WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS EVENT JUNE 3 IN ALPINE

June 2, 2013 (Alpine)--Alpine Sheriff's Station will host a free community meeting for homeowners on how to prepare your homes and families for wildfire. The event will be held Monday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard in Alpine.  A severe fire season is anticipated due to drought, so authorities urge residents to learn how to reduce risk of loss and help firefighters protect your properties before the next major wildfire occurs.

Guest Speakers will include:


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SAN MIGUEL FIRE DISTRICT AND CAL FIRE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION CAMPAIGN MAY 25

 

May 22, 2013 (Spring Valley) – Maybe becoming a volunteer Firefighter is a bit much, but please consider being a volunteer “Fire Preventer.”

The San Miguel Fire District in cooperation with its partner CAL FIRE, is ramping up its “Before the Threat, Are You Ready” preparedness and prevention campaign. This massive public education effort provides critical preparedness information with an old- fashioned door-to-door contact.

Again this year they are hoping teams of community volunteers join CAL FIRE Firefighters in a door-to-door campaign in the Districts high hazard urban interface areas. Two major fires in four years have shown all of us the need to be prepared and to create defensible space, to have an evacuation plan, and have the supplies necessary to take care of your families for up to a week.


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DON'T DELAY PAST MAY: IT'S TIME TO PREPARE FOR WILDFIRES

 

Residents Urged to Clear Defensible Space, Plan for Family Readiness

May 22, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – California has already seen 1,569 wildfires this year, about 500 more fires compared to the same period last year and 85 percent more fires than in an average year. With the long, hot and dangerous summer a real possibility, County Supervisor Dianne Jacob and public safety officials today urged residents to protect their homes against wildfires by creating a 100-foot buffer zone.

“Now is the time to prepare for what is shaping up as a tougher-than-usual fire season,” said Supervisor Jacob. “The firestorms of 2003 and 2007 taught us that homes with defensible space are far more likely to survive than homes without it.”


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SENATOR KEHOE SECURES AUDIT OF STATE’S MUTUAL AID RESPONSE SYSTEM

 

February 20, 2011 (San Diegio) – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced this week that the State Auditor will conduct an investigation of California’s mutual aid response system to learn if budget cuts are undermining the program. Kehoe requested the audit at a Feb. 16 meeting of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

 

“Our mutual aid system, which was created in 1950 and has been a model for the country, is facing challenges as state and local governments slash their budgets,” Kehoe said. “If this system is further strained, it could jeopardize public safety during wildfires, earthquakes, floods, or mudslides. We can’t afford to let that happen.”


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BETWEEN WILDFIRES: GET RID OF EMBER CATCHERS

 

By Anne S. Fege, Ph.D., M.B.A., wildfire ecologist and educator, and retired Forest Supervisor of the Cleveland National Forest
 


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BOOK REVIEW: FIRE, CHAPARRAL, AND SURVIVAL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

 

by Richard W. Halsey

 

Second Edition, Revised and Updated
Sunbelt Publications, San Diego. 2008. 232 pages, illustrated, color plates.

 

Reviewed by Walter Hall

 

“The Viejas fire in ’01, the Galivan fire in ’02, and then again during the Cedar fire in ’03. It’s always the same damn thing.” -- A weary incident commander back on the fire line


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HOT TOPICS: FIRE CHIEFS DISCUSS FIRE SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS AT RANCHO SAN DIEGO-JAMUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BREAKFAST

Story by Kyle Serzen

Photo by Leon Thompson

May 27, 2009 (Cuyamaca College)—Despite the friendly conversation and satisfying meal at last Friday’s Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting at Cuyamaca College, the focus was a serious issue—fire safety and preparedness for East County residents as fire season approaches. Cal Fire Battalion Chief Dave Allen and San Miguel Fire District Chief August Ghio spoke on what to expect and how to be prepared in the upcoming months.


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.