Coalition of North County Fire and Water Agencies Prepared for Dry Conditions and Fire Danger

Considering ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County, local fire and water districts and departments in Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, and Encinitas are taking proactive measures during high-fire danger warnings to ensure the safety of residents and protect local resources in the event of a wildfire crisis. Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, Encinitas Fire Department, Solana Beach Fire Department, Del Mar Fire Department, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Dieguito Water District, and Santa Fe Irrigation District are in close collaboration and communication to prepare adequate resources, ensuring swift responses should wildfires threaten the area.

All districts and departments have prepared emergency generators in the event of a power safety shutoff, and fire crews have been briefed by water agency staff on fire hydrant locations and water distribution system pressures during ongoing training exercises throughout the year. Water agency staff also regularly inspect and test fire hydrants throughout their respective service areas.

“We want to assure our community that their local emergency responders are trained and ready to respond in the event of a wildfire,” said Fire Chief Dave McQuead of Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection. “All agencies have frequently communicated with each other, monitor all weather events, and are prepared to deploy if necessary. We want the community to know we train for situations like this, and the best thing they can do in an emergency is listen to emergency responders and follow all instructions. If you are asked to evacuate, do not leave indoor water or sprinklers on; that may reduce water pressure for fighting the fires.”

The fire district and departments encourage residents and businesses to stay tuned to the media, local websites, and apps such as SDCountyEmergency.com, Watch Duty, and Genasys Protect. Monitor and pay attention to evacuation warnings and orders during a wildfire. In the event you are in an evacuation warning zone, do the following:

Prepare to evacuate:

• Alert family and neighbors

• Ensure you have your emergency supply kit

• Close all windows and doors and leave them unlocked

• Remove flammable window shades and curtains

• Move furniture to the center of the room

• Turn off the pilot lights and air conditioning

• Leave lights on inside and outside your home so firefighters can see your house through the smoke

• Bring patio furniture, toys, etc. inside

• Turn off propane tanks and other gas at the meter

• Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running

• Back your car into the driveway to facilitate a quick departure

• Cover attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial covers

• Call 211 for all non-emergency inquiries or visit 211SanDiego.org

If you are instructed to leave your home, leave immediately.

All agencies participate in the County of San Diego emergency management planning for regional disaster response, including its WebEOC crisis management system. All water agencies participate in a regional Water Agency Emergency Collaborative to streamline mutual aid and shift resources where needed most. Regionally, lessons learned in the 2003 and 2007 San Diego County wildfires helped improve water management, including the manual operation of regional water facilities if power shut off, interconnections between agencies for redundancy and mutual aid agreements. Currently, adequate water is available for firefighting, including water in reservoirs that helicopters and air tankers can use for fire suppression, such as Olivenhain Reservoir and San Dieguito Reservoir.