🔥 La Costa Oaks Wildfire Preparedness 🔥

✔️ What to do NOW:

  • Register for Alert San Diego and Download the SD Emergency app
  • Prepare your home for a wildfire (Close areas when embers can enter)
  • Prepare your yard for a wildfire
  • Make a plan with family and neighbors
  • Purchase items for GO back (See list attached)

✔️ What to do when Wildfire Conditions Exist:

  • Monitor news (Radio broadcasts on KOGO AM 600 and KLSD AM 1360)
  • Finish packing GO bag and assemble important document and items
  • Ready pets (on leash) and pet food
  • Move anything that can catch fire away from your home
  • Check with neighbors and monitor our social media for neighborhood information

✔️ Evacuating or Sheltering in Place:

  • Shut off gas line to house
  • Prop open wooden gates
  • Close all windows and open drapes/blinds
  • Close all doors (including garage doors)
  • Make sure hoses are attached
  • If you evacuate, stay in your car!!!

✔️ Dress Appropriately!!!

When wildfire approaches, it is important to dress properly.  Wear long sleeves and long pants made of cotton or wool, in bright colors if possible.  Never dress in synthetics.  Wear sturdy shoes or boots, not sandals.  Wear a helmet or at least a hat to protect your head from embers and debris.  Finally, a good pair of goggles to protect your eyes from smoke.

✔️ Taking Action: 

Listen to the news and decide whether you will evacuate or shelter in place.  If you evacuate, do not wait too long!  If you do evacuate, fire officials recommend that you stay inside your vehicle, even if there is traffic.  If you are sheltering in place, your home can be a place of safety.

“Go Kit” Checklist

  • A battery powered radio (with extra batteries)
  • Wear a sturdy pair of shoes or boots (preferable)
  • A flashlight and/or headlamp (with extra batteries)
  • Respirator (N95, available at most hardware stores) or damp scarf
  • Map marked with at least two evacuation routes (if possible)
  • Prescriptions medications
  • Water bottle
  • Small supply of energy food
  • Spare battery and charger for cell phone  
  • Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses
  • An extra set of car keys
  • Cash (small bills),credit cards, or traveler’s checks
  • First aid kit (compact)
  • Sanitation supplies (toilet paper, feminine hygeine, baby wipes/diapers)
  • Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)
  • Pet Supplies (leash/carrier, food, water)
  • Easily carried valuables
  • Three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person.
  • Family photos and other small, irreplaceable items
  • Personal computer information on hard drives (off site or “cloud” backup is best)

For links to recommended items, see:  https://www.firesafemarin.org/evacuation/go-kit

Wildfire Resources

  1. Cal Fire website: www.readyforwildfire.org
    General resources. Ready Set Go! Resources. Ready (defensible space, hardening home); Set (wildfire action plan, emergency supply kit, communication plan), Go (evacuation plan OR shelter in place plan).

  2. FIRESafe Marin: www.firesafe.com
    There are fantastic resources on this comprehensive website, including resources related to personal and community preparedness, home hardening, and defensible space. There’s also a great webinar series with lessons and stories from recent wildfires.

  3. FEMA, www.ready.gov
    Survivor stories; list of resources.

  4. Airnow.gov:
    Website with info on current air quality conditions, status of fires, etc.

  5. Red Cross Wildfire Safety Checklist https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDF_s/Preparedness___Disaster_Recovery/Disaster_Preparedness/Wildfire/Wildfire.pdf

  6. Ready San Diego: www.readysandiego.org