Catastrophic brush fires are occurring at an increasing rate not only in California but across the country.
Hillside communities within Los Angeles are under continuous threat
of devastating wildfire. As this risk increases, it is important you protect yourself and your family by planning,
preparing and staying aware.
Additional tips and resources:
www.lafd.org/wildfire
PLAN. PREPARE. ACT.
PLAN
CREATE AN EVACUATION PLAN THAT INCLUDES:
•
A designated emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. This is critical to determine who has safely evacuated from the affected area.
•
Several different escape routes from your home and community. Practice these often so everyone in your family is familiar in case of emergency.
•
Have an evacuation plan for pets and large animals such as horses and other livestock.
•
A Family Communication Plan that designates an out-of-area friend or relative as a
point of contact to act as a single source of communication among family members in
case of separation. (It is easier to call or message one person and let them contact
others than to try and call everyone when phone, cell, and internet systems can be
overloaded or limited during a disaster.)
1. People and pets
2. Papers, phone numbers, and important documents 3. Prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses
4. Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia
5. Personal computers (information on hard drive and disks) 6. “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash
PLAN GRAB THESE 6 “P’s” IN CASE OF
IMMEDIATE EVACUATION
PREPARE
ITEMS TO TAKE IF TIME ALLOWS:
• Easily carried valuables
• Family photos and other irreplaceable items
• Personal computers, hard drives and disks
• Chargers for cell phones, laptops, etc.
EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT CHECKLIST:
Face masks or coverings
Three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person
Map marked with at least two evacuation routes Prescriptions or special medications
Change of clothing
Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses
Extra set of car keys, credit cards, and cash First aid kit
Flashlight
Battery-powered radio and extra batteries Sanitation supplies
Copies of important documents Pet food and water
PREPARE: HARDEN YOUR HOME
Flying embers from a wildfire can destroy homes up to a mile away. Taking the necessary measures to harden (prepare) your home can help increase its chance of survival when wildfire strikes.
Here are ways you can harden your home and make it more fire resistant:
Roof
Build your roof or re-roof with materials such as composition, metal or tile. Block any spaces between roof decking and covering to prevent embers from catching.
Vents
Vents on homes create openings for flying embers. Cover all vent openings with 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch metal mesh. Do not use fiberglass or plastic mesh because they can melt and burn.
Eaves and Soffits
Eaves and soffits should be protected with ignition-resistant* or non-combustible materials.
Chimney
Cover your chimney and stovepipe outlets with a non-flammable screen. Use metal screen material with
openings no smaller than 3/8-inch and no larger than 1/2-inch to prevent embers from escaping and igniting a fire.
Windows
Heat from a wildfire can cause windows to break even before the home is on fire. This allows burning embers to enter and start fires inside. Single-paned and large windows are particularly vulnerable. Install dual-paned windows with one pane of tempered glass to reduce the chance of breakage in a fire. Consider limiting the size and number of windows that face large areas of vegetation.
Decks
Surfaces within 10 feet of the building should be built with ignition-resistant*, non-combustible, or other approved materials. Ensure that all combustible items are removed from underneath your deck.
Rain Gutters
Keep rain gutters clear or enclose rain gutters to prevent accumulation of plant debris.
Garage
Have a fire extinguisher and tools such as a shovel, rake, bucket, and hose available for fire emergencies.
Install weather stripping around and under the garage door to prevent embers from blowing in.
PREPARE: HARDEN YOUR HOME
Patio Cover
Use the same ignition-resistant* materials for patio coverings as a roof.
Fences
Consider using ignition-resistant* or non-combustible fence materials to protect your home during a wildfire.
Driveways and Access Roads
Driveways should be built and maintained in accordance with state and local codes to allow fire and emergency vehicles to reach your home. Consider maintaining access roads with a minimum of 10 feet of clearance on either side, allowing for two-way traffic. Ensure that all gates open inward and are wide enough to accommodate
emergency equipment. Trim trees and shrubs overhanging the road to allow emergency vehicles to pass.
Address
Make sure your address is clearly visible from the road.
Water Supply
Consider having multiple garden hoses that are long enough to reach all areas of your home and other structures on your property. If you have a pool or well, consider getting a pump.
PREPARE: HARDEN YOUR HOME
PREPARE:BRUSH CLEARANCE
Mandatory for owners of property located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ). Year-round compliance shall be maintained as described below on all native brush, weeds, grass, trees and hazardous vegetation within 200 feet of any structures/buildings, whether those structures are on the owner’s property or adjoining properties, and within 10 feet of any
combustible fence or
roadway/driveway used for vehicular travel.
CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS
1.Areas within 200 feet of structures and/or 10 feet of roadside surfaces or combustible fence: Grass shall be cut to three inches in height. Native brush shall be reduced in quantity to three inches in height. This does not apply to
individual native shrubs spaced a minimum of 18 feet apart, provided such shrubs are trimmed up from the ground to 1/3 of their height with all dead material being removed
2.For trees taller than 18 feet, trim lower branches so no foliage is within six feet of the ground and remove all dead material. For trees and shrubs less than 18 feet, remove lower branches to 1/3 of their height, and remove all dead material
3.Trees shall be trimmed up so the foliage is no closer than 10 feet from the outlet of a chimney.
4.All roof surfaces shall be maintained free of substantial accumulation of leaves, needles, twigs and any other
combustible matter. Maintain five feet of vertical clearance between roof surfaces and portions of overhanging trees 5.All cut vegetation and debris shall be removed in a legal manner. Cut vegetation may be machine processed
(i.e.,chipped) and spread back onto the property at a depth not to exceed three inches within 30 feet of structures and six inches beyond 30 feet of structures. In addition, spread material shall not be placed within 10 feet of any usable roadside (in accordance with Fire Prevention Bureau Procedure No. 25)
CHECK TO SEE IF YOU’RE IN COMPLIANCE HERE: vms3.lafd.org
(YOU WILL NEED THE APN AND PIN FROM THE CARD SENT IN MARCH)
PREPARE: BRUSH CLEARANCE
ACT
If you see smoke or fire in your area, immediately report it by dialing 9-1-1. Remember to take note of the location so that the dispatcher can send emergency equipment to the correct location before you hang up.By leaving early, you will give your family the best chance of surviving a wildfire. You also help firefighters by keeping roads clear of congestion, enabling them to move in and out of your neighborhood, and thereby doing their job – saving the lives and property of people affected by the threat of fire.
IF YOU THINK IT’S TIME TO LEAVE DON’T WAIT. GET OUT.
In an intense wildfire, firefighters may not have time to knock on every door.
ACT IF YOU HAVE TIME BEFORE EVACUATION
• Bring in flammable items (patio
furniture, mats, toys, trash cans, etc) or place them in your pool
• Turn off propane tanks and move portable tanks away from structures
• Connect garden hoses to outside water valves for firefighters to use
• Fill buckets with water and place them around the outside of the house
• Turn off sprinklers to save
neighborhood/property water pressure
• Turn on lights outside and inside for firefighter visibility in smoke or darkness
• Shut all windows, doors (including doggie doors) and gates BUT LEAVE LEAVE THEM UNLOCKED
• Remove lightweight curtains and flammable window shades
• Move flammable furniture away from windows and doors
• Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights
• Shut off A/C and ventilation systems
• Place ladders to the corner of your roof for firefighters to gain access
• Back your vehicle into the driveway for quick departure
• Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle
• Carry your car keys with you
• Locate your pets and keep them nearby
RED FLAG RESTRICTED PARKING
In an attempt to increase public safety, the Fire Department and Department of Transportation created a program to remove illegally parked vehicles in posted locations within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. This program was implemented with the assistance of the City Council to remove vehicles that
create a hazardous condition on Red Flag Days.
How will I know if there is a Red Flag declaration?
• Contact the 311 Operator for information regarding a Red Flag event.
• Every local news outlet (radio and television) will broadcast during traffic and weather segments that the City of Los Angeles is in a Red Flag situation
• Every fire station will fly a red flag during the declaration and local fire companies will drive the posted areas in an attempt to locate vehicle owners to have them move prior to being towed.
SIGN UP FOR ALERTS
To receive important messages from LAFD Red Flag Automated System, register your contact information by following the prompts at the LAFD website under the Red Flag No Parking icon under the Wildfire tab.
REPORTING FIRE HAZARDS
BRUSH CLEARANCE VIOLATIONS
By Email – Send details to [email protected]
By Phone - Office hours are from 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. (except holidays) DIAL 800.994.4444
In Person – Report the hazard to your local Fire Station.
ONLINE SMOKING COMPLAINT
Complaints regarding a potential violation for smoking in a smoke-free area (which includes e-cigarettes), may be done at www.lafd.org. Form for online smoking complaint may be found under Fire Prevention Tab.
Provide type of violation, violation description, location, date and time.
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS
Complete a service request form at www.myla311.lacity.org
RESOURCES
LAFD
Visit the Los Angeles Fire Department website, www.lafd.org, to learn more about prevention and emergency preparedness.
CAL FIRE
Learn more about how to prepare your home at CalFire, www.readyforwildfire.org. Resources include information on defensible space, fire resistant landscaping, and pamphlets on being prepared.
ACTIVE FIRE MAP
For an active California wildfire map, visit:https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/
ALERTS
LAFD www.lafd.org
NOTIFY LA https://emergency.lacity.org/notifyla-about
OUTSIDE OF LA CITY http://lacounty.gov/emergency/alert-la/find-your-emergency-notification-system-2/
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:
FEMA https://www.ready.gov/
Red Cross (Seniors) https://www.redcross.org/
