The Firebreak
The Newsletter of the Olivenhain Fire Safe Council
May 2023
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From the President
May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, and what a month this has been for the Olivenhain Fire Safe Council! Since our last newsletter, the OFSC has achieved two significant milestones, ones that were many, many months in the making.
I’m beyond delighted to report that the Olivenhain Fire Safe Council is now an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, as designated by the IRS, and we can now offer tax deductions for the contributions we receive. In addition to accepting checks, we can now receive donations via Zelle and Paypal (email our treasurer, Jeff Dasch, for details until we update the website) and are working on adding Venmo. Your generous contribution to the OFSC will help cover our overhead, and it is an investment in the safety of our community. No gift is too small (or too large)!
And just as exciting, our Community Wildfire Protection Plan was approved by the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County’s review committee, which oversees the CWPP process. We would like to thank all the community members who provided input into the CWPP; several of our Neighborhood Ambassadors, who canvassed their neighbors about their fire-related concerns; Morgan Graves of the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County, who provided patient support throughout the process; the Encinitas Fire Department—especially the Fire Prevention Division, which provided key information and coordination, and Chief Gordon, who signed off on the document; CALFIRE’s mapping department, which provided three of the mandatory maps; and the city’s IT department, which created the required PACE evacuation map. We literally couldn’t have done this without any of you. The CWPP is a living document, and we will update it as circumstances dictate. You can access the document here.
We continue to have a monthly booth at the new Cardiff Farmers Market at MiraCosta College, on the first Saturday of each month, and we hope you’ll stop by and see us on June 3, when we’ll next be there. We could also use some volunteers to help staff the booth each month. Board members have been leading the effort so far, but it would ease some of the pressure on us if some community members would like to help out as well. (And many vendors at the market offer a small discount to other vendors, which we qualify for when we’re there. So in addition to having fun, you could save a little money.)
We are also always in the market for more Neighborhood Ambassadors. If you’re interested in being a point person for fire safety in your neighborhood, contact our Neighborhood Ambassador coordinator, Lou Obertreis.
Coming up, we’d like to draw your attention to a free webinar offered by United Policyholders on June 9, titled, “Keeping Your Home Protected When Insurance Options are Limited and Expensive.” Details are in the events section below, but you will need to register in advance.
As you’ve no doubt noticed, the record rainfall we had during the winter has given rise to a LOT of vegetation. Now is the time to start managing it by cutting it back, thinning it and clearing defensible space around your home before it becomes fuel for wildfires as the weather warms up.
(And if you'd like to attend our board meeting on Monday, June 12, please email me for the Zoom link.)
—Sarah Lifton
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Countywide wildland fire training impresses OFSC board member
Every year, an array of fire, law enforcement, utilities and other agencies gather to take part in a countywide wildland training drill. The drill offers a chance for participants to "dust off the cobwebs" before fire season starts in earnest, coordinate efforts and also check out equipment to find out what may need maintenance or replacement.
This year, on May 2, OFSC board member Mike Shields was able to observe part of the three-day training, thanks to an invitation from Encinitas fire chief Josh Gordon.
The drill took place at Barona, and according to Chief Gordon, the training exercise brought together 15 to 20 fire departments and agencies and another 10 to 15 partners. Shields spotted representatives and equipment from CAL FIRE, SDGE, the National Forest Service, the county Office of Emergency Services, tribal groups and the Marine Corps, as well as different municipalities.
“What really impressed me was the vast coordination between the different entities—governmental, fire, federal state, utilities, tribal, military, local, law enforcement, etc.,” Shields said.
The exercise itself took place around three primary locations, called “branches.” Branch 3 was the communications command hub and also included a classroom, where Shields observed training on communication protocols between ground and air and where six communication trucks were onsite, antennae up.
Branch 2 was designated for medical emergency simulations, primarily for law enforcement and firefighters to work through different scenarios—if power lines fell, for instance, and how to evacuate severely burned victims if a fire was blocking access.
Branch 1 required participants to cut a line, or firebreak, in the back country. Shields saw probably a dozen fire trucks of different types and 40 to 50 firefighters on the ground running hose lines. Simultaneously helicopters circled overhead and dumped water. Portable pools of water were also in place so the fire trucks could fill up.
Each branch location had a board posted with printouts showing the current fire event, as well as historical fire events. Weather monitoring, which is also critical, was integrated into the event modeling.
“It was interesting for a non-fire person to see,” Shields said. “As soon as an incident starts, these printouts are generated and brought to the site. You can immediately orient yourself to what’s going on now as well as to what has happened in the past.”
Although the training drill is very expensive, requiring many agencies to commit people and equipment over three days, it is extremely valuable, helping to ensure that all the players are better prepared in case of wildfire and ensuring better responses for communities throughout San Diego County.
“It was impressive.” Shields said. “There was a lot going on, a lot of people and resources, and I’m super glad these people are doing this. That kind of fieldwork can be extremely difficult, and it was nice to see all these professionals continually working at making these responses more robust to help with whatever gets thrown their way.”
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Saturday, June 3. OFSC will be at the Cardiff farmers market at MiraCosta College, from 10 am to 2 pm. Come do your shopping and visit us there. We'd love to chat with you, and you can pick up some swag and informational materials!
Friday, June 9, noon (online event presented by United Policyholders). "Keeping Your Home Protected When Insurance Options are Limited and Expensive."
United Policyholders is offering this free webinar, which will cover:
- What to do if your insurer non-renews you.
- Is it safe to insure your home through a company you’ve never heard of?
- What is the California Fair Plan, and what options does it offer?
- What fine print matters when buying home insurance?
- Questions to ask to get adequate protection in place for your home.
- What can you do to improve your home's chances of surviving a wildfire?
Panelists:
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Amy Bach, Insurance Consumer Advocate and UP Co-Founder
- Robert Feldman, Coast to Canyon Insurance Services
- Phil Irwin, Independent insurance Agent / California Fair Plan
- John E. Wheatley, VP of Insurance Services, Redwood Credit Union
Register here.
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Part of being prepared for wildfire means ensuring that it's easy to exit your home during an emergency. Take the following steps now to facilitate ease of egress when you need it most.
- Identify the best escape routes to your vehicle and exiting your property.
- Assess the health and condition of the plants along each route. Keep vegetation maintained—pruned back and hydrated.
- Remove dead plant material and plant debris.
- Remove vines on wooden gates, near doors or windows.
- Remove or move jute doormats, wood planters, outdoor furniture, and other combustible materials from your exits.
- Replace wood gates, arbors, or trellises along your exits with non-combustible materials.
- Have evacuation tags easily accessible, post at highly visible locations when you evacuate. This alerts fire personnel that you have left the property. (Check with your local fire department for signs.)
- Help make your hose locations obvious for fire personnel.
Source: FireSafe Marin
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There are many ways you can help make our community safer from wildfire by becoming an Olivenhain Fire Safe Council volunteer. Bring your ideas, talents, skills and connections!
Opportunities include:
EVENTS AND PROGRAMS: Brainstorm with us to create, plan, set up and staff events. We especially need volunteers to help with our monthly booth at the new Cardiff farmers market at MiraCosta College.
FUNDRAISING: Help with outreach to businesses and neighbors. Identify grant opportunities, promote employer matches, develop and assist with fundraising events.
NEIGHBORHOOD AMBASSADORS: Be the point person in your neighborhood to identify unique needs and vulnerable residents and keep your neighbors informed in the event of a wildfire or other emergency. If you live in a community with an HOA, leverage the HOA structure to make your community safer through structure hardening and defensible space projects.
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS: Do you have special skills and knowledge of relevant industries? We could use your help when there is a need for information, services or referrals (e.g. , insurance agents, lawyers, accountants/bookkeepers, Realtors, contractors, tradespeople, handymen, videographers, writers, PR professionals, artists, graphic designers, etc.).
OTHER IDEAS? Let us know!
Click here to find out more or sign up as a volunteer.
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The Olivenhain Fire Safe Council relies on donations to carry out its mission of enhancing fire prevention, safety and preparedness for all residents, through ongoing outreach, education and collaborative interventions, projects and activities. Help us build capacity by making a generous contribution. Make checks payable to Olivenhain Fire Safe Council and mail to Olivenhain Fire Safe Council, 2240 Encinitas Blvd., Ste. D, #165, Encinitas, CA 92024. (Zelle is also available. Email us for specifics.) | |
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