Assemblymember Laurie Davies invited the community to participate and listen in on a discussion on Thursday, April 10, at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center regarding wildfire safety and preparedness, as the community’s concern rises with recent events and severity zones changing.
In a room of about 50 residents, OCFA Division Chief Cheyne Maule, OCSD Commander Virgil Asuncion, San Juan Capistrano Director of Public Works & Community Services Thomas Toman, Laguna Niguel Mayor Pro Tem Gene Johns, and San Clemente Councilmember Rick Loeffler made presentations bringing light to various topics regarding how residents can prepare their homes in case of an emergency.
The meeting highlighted the recent updates to California’s fire hazard severity zones. To enhance wildfire resiliency measures, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an Executive Order fast-tracking the release of updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) mapping in Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs). In South Orange County’s case, LRAs are areas protected by local fire districts, such as the Orange County Fire Department.
With the new fire zones, the speakers focused on the Orange County Fire Authority’s “Ready, Set, Go!” Program, which has tools to protect residents, their families, property, and the community from wildfires.
“ It is not if it’s going to come, it’s when the fires are going to come,” said Maule during his presentation. “It truly is a year-round fire season for us here in Southern California, so you, as the community, must work alongside us at the fire department and the sheriffs as we prepare for these fires.”
With the updated fire-zone maps, portions of South Orange County cities are located in a high and a very high-rated fire hazard severity zone. New state-directed responsibilities have been shared for residents with homes in these fire hazard severity zones, and Maule highlighted some of the things that can be done.
“Defensible space” was the biggest of the outlined plans that homeowners can take to protect their homes. Those in Very High FHSZ must comply with stringent defensible space and home hardening requirements. Specifically, homeowners in this zone shall maintain a space within 100 feet of buildings, homes, and adjoining decks. Trees must be trimmed, dead or dying vegetation must be removed, and flammable brush must be cleared. The greatest degree of vegetation control and landscaping must occur within 30 feet of a home or building.
Another regulation that will go into effect in accordance with the state Board of Forestry will require property owners in very-high fire zones to maintain ember-free zones within five feet of a structure, or the so-called Zone 0. That means paving or rocks must surround a home, and flammable materials like wooden gates, plants, and bark mulch will be banned in that 5-foot perimeter.
Those in a new construction home or completing renovations toward home hardening in designated zones must adhere to Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building codes. Specifically, new construction and renovations in the high and very-high fire zones must comply with Chapter 7A, which mandates that homes have fire-resistant roofs and rain gutters, outer walls capable of withstanding heat and flames for up to an hour, double-pane windows with tempered, shatter-proof glass, and ember-resistant attics and garage vents.
With that in mind, when fires break out in the area, the speakers told residents that it is imperative to know what zone they are living in and listen to all evacuation orders being shared with them by personnel. Having a plan and being ready to implement it when it’s time to evacuate will help keep everyone safe.
“ There are lots of notifications that will be going out when you’re on evacuation warnings and evacuation orders; know and be signed up for those tools to know when it’s time to go,” Maule said. “If you feel like it’s time to go or you’re getting nervous, please go. We are trying to encourage residents to have their plan ready to be set for a fire when it comes, have their homes safe, but also to get out in time because the worst thing is when we’re driving down the street and smoke is blowing across the street, and poor residents are trying to run out to their cars and get out. Not only is it incredibly dangerous, but I will tell you that for us, driving through a fire is scary; so we’d never want you to be stuck in that situation.”
Residents can locate their fire hazard severity zone by entering their address on CAL FIRE’S website. The FAQ page for CAL FIRE provides more information on these new regulations and the fire zones.