Postal Customer NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage Escondido, CA 92026 PAID Permit No. 273 Escondido, CA News ECRWSS Serving the communities of Castle Creek, Champagne Village, Deer Springs, West Lilac, Hidden Meadows, Jesmond Dene, Rimrock, and the Welk Resort

Volume 7, No. 1 www.DeerSpringsFireSafeCouncil.com SPECIAL EDITION 2012 when the smoke Clears WillWill YourYour HomeHome STSTILLILL bebe ththereere??

Aerial view of the destruction in Rancho Bernardo after the Witch Creek Fire ravaged San Diego County in 2007. Andrea Booher/FEMA. Living with Making Your Home a Safer Place A fter decades of studying fires, experts with the US Forest Ser- the edge safer. It will provide solutions to protect your family and vice made a startling discovery. When a wildfire strikes, the greatest your neighbors from the hazards of wildfire. threat to our homes isn’t that wall of flame sweeping up a canyon. The It will have lists of preventive measures you can take to make your greatest threat is hidden in our own homes — the way they’re built, home safer. Some are easy, and others are difficult; some are free while the materials they’re made of, the way they’re landscaped. All of these others are costly. What is important is that you take steps to guard factors make our homes more or less susceptible to the burning embers your home, and your neighbors’ homes, from a wildfire’s devastation. and windblown firebrands that bring the fire right to our doorsteps. If you implement the safeguards recommended in this issue, you may All of us in the Deer Springs fire district live in what is called the Wild- improve the likelihood that your home will survive the next wildfire. land Urban Interface (WUI). It is beyond the city’s edge. We live here No amount of equipment can increase the chance that because we like living on the edge. But our chosen location has risks. your home will survive if you haven’t taken protective steps before a This special edition of Fire Safety News focuses on making living on fire strikes. The time to start is ow.n Learning Lessons from the Past PAGE 2 Wildfire is a StrictT eacher A Message from Chris Amestoy Deer Springs Fire Protection District

The lengthening days of spring mean the return of condi- tions ripe for wildland fires. Here in San Diego County, the threat of fire never fully subsides and the lack of rain this winter has only made the situation worse. CAL FIRE and the Deer Springs Fire Protection District are prepar- ing for wildfire every day by performing drills, conduct- ing inspections and maintaining the tools of our trade.

Nonetheless, we can’t be fully prepared without your help. No single agency, no number of , and no specialty equipment or aircraft can fully safeguard homes without the assistance of homeowners. You and the preparations you make Photo Courtesy of the California Fire Safe Council and CAL FIRE are among the most important factors in whether or not your home has a chance of surviving an approaching wildfire. The end goal of keeping your home safe requires the use of a variety of strategies. Making sure that your home is less susceptible to external ignition requires the use of Much of the time wildfire preparations for homeowners have focused on the landscape materials and methods that resist fire. Eliminating wood shingles, using dual-paned surrounding the house. While clearing away dead and dying vegetation and keeping windows, installing a tight mesh screen over attic vents, and keeping flammable flammable plants away from your structure remain of critical importance, it is equally materials away from your house are all examples. important to make certain that your home is structurally capable of withstanding the Take the Wildfire Assessment on Page 7 of this issue to evaluate your home’s risk, hazardous conditions present during a wildfire. and then take the necessary steps to reduce or eliminate vulnerable areas. One of the most important lessons learned from the 2003 and 2007 firestorms was You can learn many other techniques by consulting your local , the that many structures burned not from the direct impact of advancing flames, but Deer Springs Fire Safe Council, and CAL FIRE. rather through the accumulation of flying firebrands. These burning materials travel on the wind and accumulate around structures until they build up sufficient heat Chris Amestoy to ignite a structure or combustible materials close to a house. Protecting against Fire Chief – DSFPD firebrands involves maintaining good clearance distances, continuous maintenance, and fire-resistant construction techniques. See the“Helpful Resources” guide on Page 8 for more information.

Advice from a Specialist how to Safeguard Your Home

Q&A with Cathey Michna around your house. Keep it clear of weeds and dead and dying brush. Fire-resistant Fire Prevention Specialist plants and materials also make your home more defensible. Deer Springs Fire Protection District Outside that 50-foot zone you have an additional 50 feet where you should reduce fuel content. You can have your trees but keep the space in between clear of dry brush. And Cathey Michna has 12 years experience as a spread trees out, especially the ones that burn faster, like pines. and safety specialist with CAL FIRE, the City of Orange, and as a plan checker for Riverside County. Would you advise people to retrofit and install interior fire sprinklers? She joined Deer Springs in January 2012. If you have We require all new homes to have fire sprinklers. We also require remodels of more questions about fire safety or code requirements, you than 50 percent to add sprinklers. Fire sprinklers can provide an insurance premium may call her at (760) 749-8001. reduction, so that gives homeowners an incentive. What are other ways to protect our homes? What have we learned from the houses that burned in the Witch and Guejito fires? Don’t stack firewood against your house. Twenty pounds of wood is the equivalent Studies show that ember accumulation — flying debris — caused many of the struc- of a gallon of gasoline, so if a fire gets into that stack it’s like having gasoline right ture fires. Embers caused patio furniture or other items to catch fire. They alsowould next to your house. Stack it away from the structure and bring it up a little at a time. get into the attic space through roof vents. Building codes have been modified It’s extra work, but these are things we have to do when we live in high-hazard zones. since those fires occurred, to help prevent that in new construction. Also, keep tree branches away from your home. The requirement is not to have branches within 10 feet of your chimney, but I recommend trimming them farther What about attic vents, do you advise changing them? back. Back to defensible space; it is beneficial to homeowners to create a large safety Boxing eaves and screening vents with small openings helps stop the fire. Ensure zone around their home. attic openings are screened with mesh of between 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch. The bigger I advise everyone to look at the “Wildfire Assessment Form” that’s in this issue ofFire the opening in a vent, the easier it is for an ember to get in. Safety News, fill that out and use that as a tool to improve your home’s ability to resist What makes some houses more susceptible to fire than others? fire. Reducing risk will help protect your home, and your neighbor’s home as well. Defensible space is the most important factor. Maintain a 50-foot clean and green zone See the “Community Wildfire Hazard Assessment Field Form” on Page 7. This Family Has a Plan to Keep Fire Away PAGE 3 A Fire Protection Strategy by Bruce Rogers

After the 2007 fires, I looked at a number of aerial views of Rancho Bernardo I painted them to match the color of the vents so they would blend in completely. as well as pictures of damaged structures. I also toured the area in a car and spoke I attached the screens to the vents using sheet metal screws. Although the screens to an RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) officer who was directly may slightly reduce the amount of air circulation in my attic, I don’t believe that it involved in after-fire matters. These are a few of the conclusions that I formed: is a problem, given our generally low humidity and temperate climate. An added • Most of the home fires were caused by flying sparks that eventually landed potential, but unproven, benefit is that the screens may make it a little more difficult on combustible materials outside a structure or entered the attic. for flying dry-wood termites to directly enter my attic. • Some homes were lost because they were tied to other structures, such as a I also changed the numbers on my mailbox from 1-inch numbers to 5-inch reflective wooden fence, deck or overhead structure, like a pergola, arbor or shade awning. numbers that could be seen by an approaching vehicle. The fire department recom- • Several homes were lost because no one was there when a smoldering ember mended this at one of its training meetings. finally burst into flames several hours after the fire front had passed. Because I have a swimming pool, I have the option of pumping the water from the I had the good insight to cover my house with stucco and box in my eaves pool in case of an emergency. I assembled my own portable gas-powered water with stucco when I built my home 13 years ago. My roof is a non-combustible pump system, copying many of the design elements from commercially available cement S-tile and I had closed the open units (including the same model of pump). I bought the pump on special order from bottoms with bird-stop when I built the True Value hardware and mounted it to a Harbor Freight two-wheel hand truck. I house. The eaves have a strip of con- attached piping and valves so that I can use the pump with either a 1½-inch standard tinuous vents with ⅛-inch holes. We , a regular garden hose, or both simultaneously. I chose to assemble my have no wooden decks or overhead own pump because I had the skill and time to do it and because I wanted to save structures. I also chose aluminum win- some money. But if I did not have the skill or time, I would have bought a commer- dows rather than wood or vinyl. With cial unit. I purchased a fire spray nozzle and enough 1½-inch regulation fire hose the exception of wooden front doors, I to easily reach any point around my structure without relocating my pump. I store have no exposed wood anywhere on the it with oil in it, but without gas. I keep fresh gas in containers nearby so that it is house, so I have a fairly safe structure ready to go. An example of a screened dormer attic vent with only a few weak areas.

But I felt that my attic was still vulnerable I had done research on-line and learned that perimeter water sprayers had been to flying embers entering the standard found to be quite effective in protecting structures in the forests of Manitoba and ¼-inch screens, so I fabricated a full set Wisconsin. Two different articles indicated that the most important thing that spray- of window screens to cover all of my ing did was to raise the humidity. Higher humidity dramatically slows the wildfire’s dormer vents and gable vents. I made rate of progress, so I added a curtain of a dozen aerial sprayers northeast of our the screen covers out of aluminum win- house, the probable direction of a firestorm driven by a Santa Ana condition. Each dow screen, stiffened with metal on the sprayer has its own ball valve so it can be turned on in whatever pattern will make it outer edges. For the metal edging, I chose most effective. If they are turned on during a firestorm, when high winds are likely, a material that would not rust — either they may not soak everything but they definitely will help raise the humidity in an aluminum or galvanized sheet metal. An example of a screened gable attic vent envelope around my house.

Stopping Fire at the Roofline is this Family’s Plan Keeping Embers out of the Attic by Tom Francl

After reading about homes in Rancho Bernardo that burned from the inside out during the 2007 fires, I found that they caught fire from burning embers that got into their attics. Shortly thereafter, I took steps to make sure that my home would not suffer a similar fate. The cheapest and quickest solution was to secure the attic vents and soffit air holes. Because these features were Before: no roof bird stops After: roof bird stops installed designed to prevent attic mildew, I needed to reduce the size of the Next, I wanted to cover the edges of my tile roof. I quickly found out that there were holes without completely sealing no pre-made coverings available due to the wide variety of tile design. I hired a them off. local roofing contractor to pack the edges with tinted concrete. It took two days and cost a little more than $6,000, but I knew we were much better protected. I covered the large attic vents with Finally, I bit the bullet two years ago and had the ⅛-inch wire screening, which I merely roof eaves covered with a fire-resistant material. stapled onto the surrounding stucco. An example of an eve bird stop The same roofing contractor charged $11,500 be-

cause the fireproof material was very expensive Local hardware stores sell circular bird stops for under $2 each, but I figured and the work was quite labor intensive. an Internet supplier could do better. I searched for round soffit vents and found painted inserts for 65 cents each, which saved a lot of money, as the entire perim- We are much safer than we were and sincerely eter of the home needed to be done. Eave covering in progress hope that our fireproofing will never be tested. Reduce Fire Hazards PAGE 5 Address these areas of concern Do Don’tn’t Invite Flames In Wildfire takes advantage of a home’s vulnerabilities. An open window is an open invitation to fire. And so is a poorly placed trash can. Look over STOPStop Fire At Your Door your home and assess its vulnerabilities using the “Wildfire Assessment Form” on Page 7, then take the necessary steps to keep a wildfire at bay. Roof The roof covering is the most vulner- Patio Furniture Plastic and wood patio able part of a home. Due to a roof’s large surface furniture can be extremely vulnerable and area, angle and exposure, it can easily catch fire hazardous during a wildfire. Plastic tables from flying embers. Wood-shake or shingle roofs or chairs can melt and wood fixtures can should be replaced with Class A fire rated ma- catch fire, endangering your home. In ad- terials such as composition, tile, or metal. All dition, shade umbrellas or cloth-covered openings in the roof covering should be blocked gazebos can ignite if they are hit by flying or sealed to prevent ember intrusions. The leading embers. Push patio furniture away from your 1 edges of mission tile roofs should be blocked home during a wildfire to reduce the risk of 14 Roof with bird stops to further prevent ember intrusion. spreading fire to your house. Patio Furniture Roof Intersections Dry leaves and debris Plastic Trash Cans Plastic trash cans rest- tend to collect where two roof sections intersect. ing next to the home may melt or collect The intersections beneath an eave or an over- flying embers and ignite and set fire to the home. 15 hang are particularly hazardous areas. A wind- 13 Be sure to move them away from the home blown ember can land in the debris, which can during a wildfire. ignite and spread the fire to overhead blocking 12 or framing. Clear the debris from these roof sec- Fencing A fence attached to the home can tions periodically — especially when the risk of ignite during a wildfire and spread to the 2 wildfire is high. home. Construct them with ignition-resistant, 16 Roof Intersections non-combustible materials. Trash Cans/Fence Eaves & Overhangs If the home has open Drip Screed A drip screed consists of small eaves and small circular vents, the vents should gaps at the base of an exterior wall to drain con- 3 be covered with metal mesh or metal baffles to densation that collects inside the wall. During a prevent ember intrusion. The exposed blocking fire, plants and grass that have grown under the and framing should be caulked to prevent em- drip screed can catch fire and spread flames to bers from getting caught in the gaps and ignit- 16 the inner walls of the home through these gaps. ing the wood. Closed or boxed-in eaves using 11 Be sure that even short grass or vegetation is ignition-resistant or non-combustible materials cleared away from the drip edge areas, even if 4 may reduce both of these hazards. it’s green. 17 Eaves /Overhangs Drip Screed 15 21 Rain Gutters Rain gutters collect debris 17 Skylights Heat from an advancing fire or over time, especially if a tree is overhanging burning debris can melt plastic skylights and them, and those leaves and twigs can be an ig- expose the home to fire. Make sure debris is nition source from embers during a wildfire. In cleared away from skylights. Further, plastic addition, plastic rain gutters may melt or ignite skylights may become brittle over time, making during a wildfire, causing the home to ignite. them susceptible to breaking. If you have sky- Check all gutters several times a year and clean lights that can be opened, make sure they’re out debris. Screening the tops of the gutters may Architectural Rendering by Howard Digital closed during the fire season. Dual-paned glass 5 help keep debris out. that includes a tempered or laminated layer pro- Rain Gutters vides extra protection. Skylights Attic Vents Attic vents are very vulnerable to Decks Deck surfaces are vulnerable to . Decks should be Windows An open window is an open invitation to a wildfire and fly- Address Make sure your home address num- flying embers during a wildfire. Once the embers designed to minimize exposure to embers and constructed of ignition- ing embers. A closed window will fail if the glass breaks due to high ber is illuminated and clearly visible from the are inside the attic space, they can ignite the insu- resistant, non-combustible, or other approved materials. They should be temperatures or if the framing material melts or burns, allowing the glass street to guide emergency responders to your 19 lation and structural wood members. These vents kept clean of combustible material, including debris that is caught in the to separate and fall away from the frame. Open windows will easily home. should be covered with ⅛-inch to ¼-inch metal gaps between the boards. allow flying embers to enter and set fire to the home’s interior. Be certain mesh to prevent ember intrusion. Do not use all windows are closed in a wildfire. Dual-paned windows, with one pane Garage Doors Make certain garage doors fiberglass window screen as it may ignite when Patio Covers (not illustrated): Make sure that patio covers are construct- tempered, and frames constructed of ignition-resistant materials will min- are closed during a wildfire. Garage doors should embers hit it. Make certain the attic space has ad- ed of ignition-resistant materials and that joints are sealed to prevent ember imize the risk. Larger windows are more prone to problems in a wildfire. have weather stripping installed around and 6 equate ventilation to prevent the growth of mold. 8 intrusion. 11 under the door to prevent embers from getting 20 Attic Vents Decks & Covers Windows in during a wildfire. Address /Garage Crawl Space Ventilation on Modular Woodpiles Never Exterior Siding Trees Trees should be Palm Trees Palm trees Propane Tanks Large propane tanks should Homes or Under Decks Crawl space ven- store woodpiles next to Exterior siding should be trimmed at least 10 feet must be maintained peri- be at least 10 feet away from the home and tilation under the home is also vulnerable to ember the home, under deck- made of noncombustible away from the home odically to remove the turned off during a wildfire. While there may intrusion. The same holds true for space under a ing, or in crawl spaces. or ignition-resistant build- and should never be beards of palm fronds be concern about exploding propane tanks deck. Most of the embers will land on soil unless Flying embers can land ing materials, such as allowed to touch the that can catch flying em- during a wildfire, safety pressure valves on combustible items are stored in these areas. Make in the woodpile and stucco. Cracks or openings home or overhang the bers, ignite, break off and the tanks, if operating properly, will pre- certain this ventilation is screened similar to attic easily ignite the wood, should be caulked and structure or decks. blow into a nearby home, vent tank explosions. Be sure to move small vents. Do not store combustibles underneath the which in turn can ignite sealed to prevent ember causing ignition. propane tanks used for barbeques and heaters 7 home or deck. the home. 10 intrusion. 12 13 away from your home during a wildfire. 21 Crawl Space Vents Woodpiles Exterior Siding Trees Palm Trees Propane Tanks In Case of Wildfire PAGE 6 Preparation is the Key to Survival

Simple Things You Can Do Now Improvements To Your Home Can Make A Difference This is a partial list of simple things you can do to improve the safety of your struc- Here is a list of structural projects that can improve your home’s safety during a ture before the next wildfire hits. Please coordinate this list with the “Wildfire wildfire. Coordinate this with your “Wildfire Assessment Form” on Page 7. Assessment Form” on Page 7, and search for other simple things you can do using the “Helpful Resources” guide on Page 8. 1. Create and maintain adequate defensible space around your home and other structures. 2. Remove flammable debris from roof and gutters and install gutter leaf guards. 3. Remove plant material and debris from around your home’s foundation, drip screed, and siding.

4. Keep vegetation at least 3 feet away from siding and reduce to 3 feet high $ Install a solid door with self-closing hinges between living areas and the garage. or less. $ Screen all attic vents with ⅛- or ¼-inch metal material (steel or aluminum). 5. Keep vegetation 6 feet away from windows. $ Screen all under home crawl space vents with ⅛-inch or ¼-inch metal material 6. Remove vegetation that is near the roof or roof edge. (steel or aluminum). 7. Clear all combustible material from beneath raised decks and homes, espe- $ Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with an approved spark arrestor. cially mobile and manufactured homes. Keep man-made fuels and vegetation 3 feet away. 8. Stack woodpiles at least 50 feet from your home and other structures, and on a level cleared site. 9. Store trash containers away from your home and other structures. 10. Plan to move patio furniture and other decorative items that are combustible away from your home. 11. Remove stacks of old lumber, construction materials, and other debris from your yard. $$ Repair roof damage. 12. Use fire resistant caulking to fill in all gaps around your windows, doors, $$ Repair windows and window frames in poor condition (those that can’t be garage doors, and pipes. Use the same caulking to fill in small cracks in closed or are warped). stucco or siding. $$ Enclose the underside of balconies and above ground decks with fire resis- 13. Store propane tanks away from your home. tant materials. 14. Post your home address at the beginning of your driveway and on your $$ Replace exterior doors with fire rated doors. home so that it is visible from the street. Use 4- to 5-inch reflective or lighted numbers that are visible to approaching vehicles. $$ Remove combustible fences and gates that are attached to structures. 15. Locate animal structures, such as doghouses or pens, away from your home. $$ Maintain an emergency water supply with a minimum capacity of 2,500 gallons on your property. 16. Large animal areas should be free of debris, old wood, and other flammable $$ items. If you have a source of water, such as a pool or tank, install a gasoline-pow- ered fire pump for use by firefighters or yourself. 17. Maintain a clear access along driveways to your home. $$ Invest in a gel system. 18. Clearly mark all emergency water sources for firefighters. 19. If possible, remove flammable trellises that touch your home. 20. Remove vines from your home’s walls. 21. Remove deteriorating fences and structures that could trap embers and easily ignite.

$$$ Enclose eaves and roofing edges. $$$ Replace single-paned and vinyl windows with tempered dual-paned or triple- paned glass windows. $$$ Replace combustible siding and trim. $$$ Rebuild wooden decks and trellises to meet current fire codes. $$$ Install a Class A fire resistant roof. $$$ Install residential sprinklers.

Driveways and roadways should have clear access Display home address so it can be seen day or night For additional safety improvement ideas for your home see the “Helpful Resources” guide on Page 8. Is Your Home at Risk? PAGE 7 this Assessment Form Will Help You Find and Correct Weaknesses

This wildfire hazard assessment will guide you through a series of questions about your home and yard, and then provide you with information about your home’s vulnerability to wildfire. This assessment form was developed by the University of California, Berkeley. An online version is available at http://firecenter.berkeley.edu/ toolkit/homeowners.html.

This assessment is designed for homeowners living in close proximity to wildland areas, where homes are at increased risk from wildfires. It is intended to be an educational guide to help homeowners lessen wildfire hazards on their property. The assessment does not take into account the effect of nearby wildlands or other homes. It is important to note that the assessment and possible solutions to any problems do not guarantee your home will not be harmed in the event of a wildfire.

For all “Yes” answers use the corresponding rating in parentheses. Answers are rated Fire Information Engine Toolkit - Community Wildfire Hazard Assessment Field Form High or Medium and correspond to the level of hazard. (Note that questions R6 and R7 A1 Address: A2 Number of structures on property: do not need to be rated.) A4 Distance (ft) to neighboring structure: A3 Number of sides surveyed: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

All “No” answers receive a Low hazard rat- Roofing and Eaves ing. Please note that for many of the ques- R1 Is the roof covering something other than Class A fire rated? Yes (High) No NA/UA tions, however, maintenance is required to R2 Does the roof have any unstopped openings at the edge or ridge (e.g., open tiles)? Yes (High) No NA/UA ensure a “No” answer. R3 Is the roof in poor condition (e.g., broken pieces, open areas, badly curled shingles)? Yes (High) No NA/UA R4 Is there vegetation or other combustible debris in the roof valleys? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA “NA/UA” (not applicable or unanswerable) R5 Does the roof have a ‘complex design’ where debris and embers can accumulate and possibly answers often result from not being able to ignite adjacent combustible siding or other vulnerable components? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA survey all sides of a home — in this case, R6 Does the roof have open eaves (i.e., exposed rafter tails)? (If no, go to R7.) Yes No NA/UA an effort should be made to fully understand R6a If yes, do gaps greater than ~1/8” exist between the blocking and rafters? Yes (High) No NA/UA the importance of the question. R6b Are there vent holes in the between-rafter blocking? Yes (High) No NA/UA R7 Does the roof have boxed-in (soffited) eaves? (If no, go to R8.) Yes No NA/UA There are several different ways that a R7a Is there a vent in the soffit? Yes (High) No NA/UA homeowner ranking can be calculated, R7b Is the soffit material combustible? Yes (High) No NA/UA and which one you use depends on your R8 Is the chimney opening unscreened? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA goals for completing your assessment. R9 Is there debris in the roof gutters? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA R10 Is there any vegetation near the roof or roof edge (overhanging, underneath, or adjacent to)? Yes (High) No NA/UA Some general approaches include: Windows 1. Give worst-case scenario, for example: W1 Does the home have single pane windows? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA 1 high makes a high rating W2 Is the window or window frame in poor condition (e.g., window can’t be closed, frame is warped)? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA W3 Are there any man-made fuels within 3’ of the windows? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA 2. Develop appropriate cutoffs, for example: W4 Is there any vegetation within 6’ of the windows? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA 3 or more highs equal a high rating Decking 0-2 highs equals a medium rating D1 Does the home have a deck or an exterior staircase? (If no, go to next section.) Yes (Med.) No NA/UA Everything else equals a low rating D1a Is there an open-frame deck attached to the house (e.g., a deck with boards with gaps between them)? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA D1b Is it difficult to access/maintain the area under the deck (will it be easy to keep the area clean of debris)? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA From the professional’s perspective, the D1c Are there any man-made fuels under or within 3’ of the deck? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA first option gives the most accurate haz- D1d Is there any vegetation under or within 3’ of the deck? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA ard rating because of the “weakest link” principle. This means that if, for example, Garage a home has a vulnerable wood roof, it may G1 Is there an attached garage or one close (within 30’) to the home? (If no, go to next section.) Yes (Med.) No NA/UA G2 Does the garage have a vehicle access door? (If no, go to next section.) Yes (Med.) No NA/UA not matter whether the siding is non-com- G3 Are there any gaps under or around garage doors? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA bustible because the roof material already poses such a severe hazard. However, some Siding newer communities may not have any wood S1 Is the siding combustible (wood, vinyl, or wood plastic composite material)? Yes (High) No NA/UA roofs due to zoning restrictions, and home- S2 Are there any other gaps (openings) located in the building envelope? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA owners may choose, instead, to go with a S3 Is the trim combustible? Yes (High) No NA/UA scheme as described in number two above. S4 Is there a combustible fence or gate attached to the structure? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA S5 Are there any man-made fuels within 6’ of the siding? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA Determining which overall rating system to S6 Is there any vegetation within 6’ of the siding? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA use depends on the goals of the assessment. S7 Are there unscreened vents or screened vents with a mesh size >1/4” (e.g., crawl space, For example, if unscreened vents are a par- room containing gas water heater)? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA ticular problem, it could be that any house Suppression with unscreened or improperly screened SU1 Is the address less than 3” tall or otherwise unreadable? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA vents would receive a high rating. SU2 Is the driveway less than 12’ wide or obstructed? Yes (Med.) No NA/UA

To assist in defining words and phrases, Copyright 2008, University of California, Berkeley. See Use Agreement for restrictions. please refer to the “Helpful Resources” guide on Page 8. Plan Now to Stay Safe PAGE 8

Helpful Resources Last-Minute Checklist Websites and Phone Numbers Things to do Before You Leave For more information about structure safety visit these sites: Here is a list of last-minute things you should do before evacuating, or in the (You may need to search “wildfire” and “wildfire preparedness”) event a wildfire is approaching. Note: EvacuateI MMEDIATELY if you feel www.DeerSpringsFireSafeCouncil.com www.Fema.gov threatened or are told to evacuate. www.DeerSpringsFire.org www.redcross.org Emergency responders check vacant homes during evacuations to assure no www.CalFireSanDiego.blogspot.com www.CaFireAlliance.org person is left behind or injured. If you have time, prepare your home and leave www.Twitter.com/CalFire www.Fire.ca.gov (search “codes”) a note on your front door saying, “We have evacuated.” Include the date and www.FireSafeCouncil.org www.osfm.fire.ca.gov (search “products”) your name, address, and contact information. Leave a note for firefighters if www.FireWise.org www.disastersafety.org/Wildfire www.WildfireZone.org http://firecenter.berkeley.edu/ you left large animals outside. www.OES.ca.gov http://sdpublic.sdcounty.ca.gov www.Ready.gov Position vehicles for easy exit. Leave keys in the ignition. Determine your evacuation route. Helpful Phone Numbers 911: Immediate Emergency Assistance Wear long-sleeve cotton or wool shirts and long pants and gloves. 211: Emergency & Non-Emergency County Information Hotline (road closures, shelter Do not wear synthetic fabrics. Distribute N-95 respirator masks with valve locations, evacuation sites, fire related information, recovery assistance and more) to family members to lessen possible smoke inhalation. 511: County Traffic, Transit and Commuter information Consult your list of important items to take with you. These may include Animal Services: North County 760-438-1460; South & Central County 619-236-2341 irreplaceable documents, family photos and mementos, medications, cell phones Arson: 911 or 800-468-4408 and chargers, computers, etc. Get them ready or place them in your vehicle. CAL FIRE: Fire Information Hotline: 619-590-3160 California Highway Patrol: 858-637-3800 If you have special needs, contact friends or neighbors who can help Deer Springs Fire Protection District: you evacuate. Headquarters: 760-749-8001 Station 12, Deer Springs/I-15 760-741-5512 Keep your children calm and available for departure. Fire Prevention Specialist 760-749-8001 Station 13, Hidden Meadows 760-751-0820 Burn Permits 760-749-8001 Station 15, Miller Station, W. Lilac 760 728-8532 Either load your pets in your vehicle or have them ready to load quickly. A tied pillowcase will hold a cat safely if you have no crate. Emergency Information Recording (Deer Springs Fire Safe Council): 949-472-1407 Office of Emergency Services: 858-565-3490 Close all windows and doors, including interior doors. Road Conditions/Closures: Cal Trans 800-427-7623 or 211-COUNTY; www.traffic.com Sheriff: San Marcos Station 760-510-5200 Open or remove interior combustible window treatments, such as curtains, drapes, and shades. Suggested Internet Search Words for More Information Move furniture and combustible décor away from windows. Composite Building Material, Drip Screed, Dual Pane Glass, Class A Roofing, Evacu- ation Kit, Fire Embers, Fire Gel, Fire Prevention Vents, Fire Resistant Caulking, Fire Make sure your garage doors are closed to help prevent embers Resistant Decking, Fire Resistant Siding, Fire Resistant Skylights, Open Eaves, Eaves from entering, but leave them unlocked and disconnect automatic and Overhangs, N-95 Respirator Masks With Valve, Propane Tank Safety, Rain Gutter door openers. Covers, Tempered Glass. Close fireplace damper to prevent embers from entering. Leave exterior lights on so firefighters can find your home at night. Publisher: Craig C. Cook Turn off your thermostat to reduce airflow. Editors: Michael Burge and Georgia Herman Contributors: Sharon Cook, Tom Francl and Bruce Rogers Turn off your gas or propane tank. Graphics/Layout: Patty Webster Address: P.O. Box 460097, Escondido, CA 92046-0097 Move all portable propane tanks away from your house. Email: [email protected] Move exterior combustible yard furniture, cushions, and other items Donations: The Fire Safety News is a service of the Deer Springs Fire Safe Council which is away from your house. supported by donations from the community. All members of the Council are dedicated volunteers and are not compensated. The Council is an IRS approved 501(c) (3) community service organiza- Turn off automatic irrigation systems to preserve water pressure for tion, which means your contributions are tax-deductible. Please mail your donations to: firefighters. Deer Springs Fire Safe Council Place a ladder in view for firefighters. P.O. Box 460097 Escondido, CA 92046-0097 Place garden tools and hoses in view for firefighters. Disclaimer: This information will provide a high level of protection to structures built in the Wildland Open and secure any combustible gates attached to your structures. Urban Interface (WUI) area. However, there is no guarantee or assurance that compliance with these guidelines will prevent damage or destruction of structures by fires in all cases. Apply fire blocking gel, if available. Copyright © 2012 by Deer Springs Fire Safe Council. All rights reserved.

Special Thanks to the Following Contributors: Funding provided by a National Fire Plan grant from the Cooperative Fire Program of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Pacific Southwest Region, through the California Fire Safe Council. Articles and/or graphics were provided by the following contributors: The College of Natural Resources, CAL FIRE, University of California, Berkeley.