Big Bear, CA, October 1, 2015 – Although fire season has become year round, the height of fire season in San Bernardino County is October and November when the Santa Ana winds blow. As fires burn across California and no end in sight of a four-year drought, now is the time to prepare for wildfire and a possible evacuation. In June of this year over 31,000 acres were scorched in the Barton Flats area during the Lake Fire. Almost one month to the day after that fire started, the Cajon Pass erupted as the North Fire destroyed 20 vehicles as it crossed the 15 freeway, sending people running for their lives.
Already this year there have been over 1,100 wildfires in California, decimating almost 212,000 acres. Our region is prone to large wildfires, and with our drought conditions, the danger is even higher. In 2003 the Old Fire burned 91,000 acres and claimed six lives, and then there were the Slide and Grass Valley fires of 2007.
The San Bernardino County Fire Department has put together a Ready, Set, Go! Personal Wildfire Action Plan to give you the tips and tools to successfully prepare for a wildfire. It will give you guidance on retrofitting your home with fire-resistive features, and show you how to create the necessary defensible space around your home. This plan will help you prepare your home, yourself, and your family so that you can leave early, well ahead of a fast-approaching wildfire.
San Bernardino County Fire encourages residents to be prepared for a wildland fire and know what to do when asked to evacuate. The READY! SET! GO! program provides important preparation information. The goal of this program is to educate and engage residents in reducing the risk in their communities, which will help save lives and property.
To learn more on how you can be prepared for a wildfire and create your own Ready! Set! Go! plan, visit sbcfire.org.
