CITY NEWS
San Clemente Prepares for Disaster
compiled by Laura Ferguson S
outhern California is at great risk from wildfires because of the record drought conditions. Just last month, we watched
from afar on the evening news, how, in order to battle the deadly fires in northern California, it required an effort that amassed hundreds of firefighters in the state. The unusually hot tem- peratures we are experiencing, combined with the low Sierra Nevada snowpack levels have progressively worsened wild land fire condi- tions, and have increased the risk of fires, here, and elsewhere in the state. Turning to our local area where drought
conditions are most prevalent, we must remain cognizant of the threat of wildfires. Although the recent rains were welcome and aided in in- creased topsoil moisture, it did little for the long-term, drought stressed vegetation in Southern California. Above normal significant fire potential exists in the hills of San Clemente and the probability of ignition remains high as we enter fire season, when the relative humidity drops and Santa Ana winds increase.
Orange County Fire Authority Division
Chief John Abel said, “Citizens of San Clemente should remain vigilant during this time of year and be aware of activities that could start a fire in the wildland area.” He cau- tions that one potential source of fire ignition is the off road motor vehicle. “With grasses tin- der dry and relative humidity’s extremely low, an off road vehicle is a competent source of ig- nition when operating in the wildland area. Hot exhausts, a spark from an exhaust pipe and even a rock strike have been known to cause fires in Orange County.” A motor vehicle op- erator who starts a fire, while in the act of vio- lating a law such as trespassing, could be convicted of a felony. By breaking the law in this manner, people put everyone around them at risk. If you see someone riding an ATV or motorcycle in these areas, please call the Or- ange County Sheriffs Department at (949) 770-6011. Citizens of San Clemente can help fire and law enforcement by reporting suspi- cious activity in the wildland area immediately.
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Don’t ever assume that someone else has al- ready called. Hopefully residents walked away with
helpful emergency preparedness and planning information from the Readiness Festival held in late October. The City Council officially proclaimed October 17th as “San Clemente Readiness Day” to raise awareness of the im- portance of being prepared for emergencies of all kinds, whether natural or man-made disas- ters, including fires, earthquakes, floods and other disasters. You can never over prepare for an emergency or an emergency evacuation from a fire. Evacuation may be the only way to protect your family in a wildfire. Know where to go and what to bring with you. You should plan several escape routes in case roads are blocked by a wildfire and make a disaster plan for your family and practice it. Don’t forget to also prepare an emergency plan for your pets. Lastly, take a look around your home and
make sure vegetation is a safe distance from your home. All vegetation is fuel for a wildfire, though some trees and shrubs are more flam- mable than others. Ensure “defensible space”
exists around your home. This means a bare or sparsely planted area around your home that is clear of dry grass, brush and dead leaves. This space acts as a firebreak and gives firefighters a safe place to stand while protecting your home from approaching flames. The greater the dis- tance is between your home and the vegeta- tion, the greater the protection. If you live on near a field, hillside or canyon with thick veg- etation, it becomes more crucial that you main- tain defensible space around your home. Thanks for doing your part. The City is
prepared to do its part by providing quality po- lice and fire protection to the community, along with integrated teams of volunteers from the community who serve on the City’s Com- munity Emergency Response Team (CERT) who are well trained in basic disaster response skills and standing ready to assist during emer- gencies. For additional information on what to do if a
fire occurs, go to
http://readysetgooc.org. To par- ticipate in the next CERT class, contact the City’s Emergency Planning Coordinator Katie Carpenter at
CarpenterK@san-clemente.org.
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