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YOUR PERSONAL WILDFIRE ACTION PL

READY! SET! Ready! Set! Go!

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What is Fuel Modi cation ?

Dear Resident,

Los Angeles County is one of the most beautiful places to live, but for thoseliving in what are called urban interface areas, it does not come without risks.Fire is, and always has been, a natural part of this landscape. Many of us havechosen to live in brush-covered canyons and on hillsides which have historicallyburned long before homes were built. The re season is now year-round,requiring re ghters and residents to constantly be on heightened alert for the

threat of wild re.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department takes every precaution to help protectyou and your property from wild re. In the event of a major wild re, however,

re ghting resources will be stretched. This reality requires you to take personalresponsibility for protecting yourself, your family, and your property.

We have published this Ready, Set, Go! Personal Wild re Action Plan to give you the tips and tools to successfully prepare for a wild re. It will give you guidanceon retro tting your home with re-resistive features. It will help you create thenecessary defensible space around your home. This publication will help youprepare your home, yourself, and your family so that you c an leave early, wellahead of a fast-approaching wild re.

In Los Angeles County, wild res are often fueled by dry vegetation and driven byhot, dry Santa Ana winds, making them extremely dangerous and impossible

to control. However, many residents have built their homes and landscapedwithout fully understanding the impact that a wild re could have on them. Fewhave adequately prepared their families for a quick evacuation. Many dont fullyknow the potential consequences of choosing to ignore an evacuation order untilit is too late. We always recommend that you comply with any evacuation ordersresulting from wild re.

Its not a question of if but when the next major wild re will occur in LosAngeles County. Thats why the most important person in protecting your life

and property is not the re ghter, but yourself. Through advance planning andpreparation, we can all be ready for the next wild re. I hope that you nd the tipsincluded in this publication helpful in creating heightened situational awarenessand a more re-safe environment for you and your family. For more information,visit our website at www. re.lacounty.gov , or call our Public Information Of ce at(323) 881-2411.

Stay safe,

Saving Lives and Property through Advance Planning

READY! SET! GO!

Wild re Action Plan

INSIDEGet Ready - Create a Defensible Home 3

What is Defensible Space ? 4

What is a Hardened Home? 5

Tour a Wild re-Ready Home 6-7

Get Set - Prepare Your Family 8

As the Fire Approaches: Checklists 9

Go Early Checklist 10

Your Own Wild re Action Plan 11

2009 LACoFD

Get READY - Create a Defensible HomeA defensible home is a home that has the greatest potential for surviving a wild re. Defensible homes are thosehomes that are in compliance with the County of Los Angeles Brush Clearance requirements or have been

through the Fire Departments Fuel Modi cation Program and have been constructed in accordance with thelatest building standards for the re zones.

A Zone 20-foot wide irrigated area of low growing plants with high

moisture content immediately around structures. Helps prevent direct ame impingement on the structure and

is free of ne receptive fuels where embers can ignite.

B Zone Extends up to 100 feet from the home. Uses approved plantings, typically irrigated and spaced to

minimize re transmission. Designed to slow res progress, reduces intensity by

eliminating continuous fuels and maintains higher fuelmoisture levels in irrigated vegetation.

C and D Zones Extends from the outer edge of Zone B up to 200 feet. Thinned to remove dead vegetation and prevent overgrowth Designed to slow the res progress and reduce its intensity

by decreasing the availability of continuous fuels. Native vegetation thinned 50% in C zone and 30% in D zone

The Fuel Modi cation Program affects new structures and developments built in the high re hazard areas. Aplan is approved by the Fire Department that helps protect homes and neighborhoods by requiring vegetationplanted in zones around structures to be selected from an approved list and identi es areas that require brush

clearance or thinning.

Ready! Set! Go! is also supported by:

Fire Chief, P. Michael Freeman

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Defensible space is the area around a structure free of ammable plants and objects that creates a zone inwhich re ghter s can operate safely in order to help protect a home during a wild re. This space is wide enough

to prevent direct ame impingement and reduce the amount of radiant heat reaching the structure. Thedefensible space for each structure varies, depending on the type of vegetation and topography.

What is Defensible Space ?The ability of your home to survive wild re depends on its construction materials and the quality of thedefensible space surroundi ng it. Embers from a wild re will nd the weak link in your homes re protectionscheme and gain the upper hand because of a small, overlooked or seemingly inconsequential factor. However,

there are measures you can take to safeguard your home from wild re. While you may not be able to accomplishall of the measures listed below, each will increase your homes, and possibly your familys, safety and survivalduring a wild re.

What is a Hardened Home ?

ZONE 1Extends 30 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc.

Remove all ammable vegetation or other combustible growth within 30 feet of any structure or within50 feet of any structure in areas determined to be high hazard. Single trees, ornamental shrubbery orcultivated ground covers may be permitted provided they are maintained in such a manner that they do notreadily transmit re from native vegetation to the structure.

ZONE 2Thin out and remove additional vegetation an additi onal 70 feet from the structure, for a total of 100 feet. Theinspecting of cer may require an additional 100 feet of thinning or removal, for a total of 200 feet due to high rehazard.

Note: Special attention should be given to the use and maintenance of ornamental plants known or thought to be high hazard plants when used in close proximity to structures. Examples include Acacia, Cedar, Cypress,Eucalyptus, Juniper, Pine, and Pampas grass. These plantings should be properly maintained and not allowed to

be in mass plantings that could transmit re from the native growth to any structure.

ROOFSA roof is the most vulnerable surface for embers toland, lodge and start a re; this includes roof valleyopen ends of barrel tiles, and rain gutters. EAVESEmbers gather under open eaves and ignite exposedwood or other combustible material. VENTSEmbers enter the attic or other concealed spaceand ignite combustible materials. Vents in eavesand cornices are particularly vulnerable, as are anyunscreened vents. WALLSCombustible siding or other combustible or overlapmaterials provide a surface and crevice for embers nestle and ignite.

WINDOWS & DOORSEmbers can enter gaps in doors, including garage doors.Plants or combustible storage near windows can be ignitedfrom embers and generate heat that can break windowsand/or melt combustible frames. BALCONIES & DECKSEmbers collect in or on combustible surfaces or undersidesof decks and balconies, ignite the material, and enter thehome through walls or windows. To harden your home even further, consider protecting ithomes with a residential re sprinkler system. In addition

to extinguishing a re started by an ember that enters yourhome, it also protects you and your family 24/7, year-round,from any re that may start in your home, not just wild re.

Chimney

Weeds andHazardous Vegetation

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Weeds andHazardous Vegetation

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Fence

Road

SpecimanNative Shrub

SpecimanNative Shrub

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10

10

10

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30/5030/50

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Home Site and Yard: Ensure that you have at least a 100-footradius of defensible space (cleared vegetation) around yourhome. Note that even more clearance may be needed forhomes in severe hazard areas. This means looking past whatyou own to determine the impact a common slope or neighborsyard will have on your property during a wild re.

Cut dry weeds and grass before noon when temperatures arecooler to reduce the chance of sparking a re.

Landscape with re-resistant plants with high moisture contentand are low-growing.

Keep woodpiles, propane tanks and combustible materialsaway from your home and other structures, such as garages,barns, and sheds.

Ensure that trees are far away from power lines.

See our website for a list of plants and planting criteria.

Tour a Wild re Ready Home

Address: Make sure your address isclearly visible from the road.

Roof: Your roof is the most vulnerable part of yourhome because it can easily catch re from wind-blown embers. Homes with wood-shake or shingleroofs are at a higher risk of being destroyed during awild re than homes with re-resistant roofs.

Build your roof or re-roof with re-resistant materials that include composition, metal or tile. Block anyspaces between roof decking and covering toprevent ember intrusion.

Clear pine needles, leaves and other debris from yourroof and gutters.

Cut any tree branches within ten feet of your roof.

Windows: Heat from a wild re can cause windows

to break even before the home ignites. This allowsburning embers to enter and start internal res.Single-paned and large windows are particularlyvulnerable.

Install dual-paned with the exterior pane of tempered glass windows to reduce the chance of breakage in a re.

Limit the size and number of windows in your home that face large areas of vegetation.

Vents: Vents on homes are particularly vulner-able to ying embers.

All vent openings should be covered with 18-inch or smaller metal mesh. Do not use berglassor plastic mesh because they can melt and burn.

Attic vents in eaves or cornices should be baf edor otherwise prevent ember intrusion (mesh is notenough).

Water Supply: Have multiple garden hose that are long enough to reach any area of home and other structures on your proper

If you have a pool or well, consider a pum

Garage: Have a re extinguisher and tools such as a shovel,rake, bucket, and hoe available for re emergencies.

Install a solid door with self-closing hinges between living areasand the garage. Install weather stripping around and under thedoors to prevent ember intrusion.

Store all combustibles and ammable liquids away fromignition sources.

Driveways and Access Roads: Dri vewaysshould be designed to allow re and eme rgvehicles and equipment to reach your hous

Access roads should have a minimum 10-foclearance on either side of the traveled sectof the roadway and s hould allow for two-w

traf c.

Ensure that all gates open inward and arewide enough to accommodate emergencyequipment.

Trim trees and shrubs overhanging the roada minimum of 13 12 feet to allow emergenvehicles to pass.

Inside: Keep working re extinguishers on hand.

Install smoke alarms on each level of your ho meand near bedrooms. Test them monthly andchange the batteries twice a year.

Deck/Patio Cover : Use heavy timber or non- ammaconstruction material for decks and patio covers.

Enclose the underside of balconies and decks withre-resistant materials to prevent embers from blowin

underneath, lodging and starting a re.

Keep your deck clear of combustible items, such asbaskets, dried ower arrangements and other debris.

The decking surface must be ignition resistant if itswithin 10 feet of the home.

Chimney: Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe witha non- ammable screen of 14-inch wire mesh or smaller

to prevent embers from escaping and igniting a re.

Make sure that your chimney is at least 10 feet away fromany tree branches.

Walls: Wood products, such as boards, panels, orshingles are common siding materials. However, they arecombustible and not good choices for re-prone areas.

Build or remodel with re-resistant building materials,such as brick, cement, masonry, or stucco.

Be sure to extend materials from foundation to roof.

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Non-Combustible Boxed In Eaves: Box inwith non-combustible materials to preventaccumulation of embers.

Raingutters: Screen or enclose raingutterprevent accumulation of plant debris.

Non-Combustible Fencing: Make sure tonon-combustible fencing to protect your hduring a wild re.

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n Alert family and neighbors.

n Dress in appropriate clothing (i.e., clothing madefrom natural bers, such as cotton, and work boots).Have goggles and a dry bandana or part icle maskhandy.

n Ensure that you have your brush re survival kiton hand that includes necessary items, such as abattery-powered radio, spare batteries, emergencycontact numbers, and ample drinking water.

n Stay tuned to your TV or local radio stations forupdates, or check the Fire Department website atwww. re.lacounty.gov.

n Remain close to your house, drink plenty of waterand keep an eye on your family and pets if you didnot evacuate.

OUTDOOR CHECKLIST

n Gather up ammable items from the exterior of the houseand bring them inside (e.g., patio furniture, childrens toys,doormats, etc.) or place them in your pool.

n Turn off propane tanks.

n Connect garden hoses to outside taps.

n Dont leave sprinklers on or water running - they canwaste critical water pressure.

n Leave exterior lights on.

n Back your car into the garage. Shut doors and roll upwindows.

n Have a ladder available.

n Patrol your property and extinguish all small res.

n Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood orcommercial seals.

As the Fire Approaches

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Your Wild re Action Plan must be prepared with allmembers of your household well in advance of a

re.

Use these checklists to help you prepare yourWild re Action Plan.

Each familys plan will be different, depending on their situation.

Once you nish your plan, rehearse it regularly withyour family and keep it in a safe and accessible placefor quick implementation.

Create Your OwnWild re Action Plan

n Create a Family Disaster Plan that includesmeeting locations and communication plans,and rehearse it regularly. Include in your plan theevacuation of large animals, such as horses.

n Have re extinguishers on hand and train yourfamily how to use them.

n Ensure that your family knows where your gas,

electric and water main shut-off controls are andhow to use them.

n Plan several different escape routes.

n Designate an emergency meeting locationoutside of the re hazard area.

n Assemble an emergency supply kit asrecommended by the American Red Cross.

n Appoint an out-of-area friend or relative as apoint of contact so that you can communicatewith family members who have relocated.

n Maintain a list of emergency contact numbersposted near your phone and in your emergencysupply kit.

n Keep an extra emergency supply kit in your car incase you cant get to your home because of re.

n Have a portable radio or scanner so that you canstay updated on the re.

INDOOR CHECKLIST

n Shut all windows and doors, leaving theunlocked.

n Remove ammable window shades andcurtains and close metal shutters.

n Remove lightweight curtains.

n Move ammable furniture to the cente

room, away from windows and doors.n Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot

n Leave your lights on so re ghters canhouse under smoky conditions.

n Shut off the air conditioning.

IF YOU ARE TRAPPED: SURVIVAL TIPS

n Shelter away from outside walls.

n Patrol inside your home for spot res aextinguish them.

n Wear long sleeves and long pants madenatural bers such as cotton.

n Stay hydrated.

n Ensure you can exit the home if it catch

(remember if its hot inside the house i to ve times hotter outside).

n After the re has passed, check your roextinguish any res, sparks or embers.

n Check inside the attic for hidden embe

n Patrol your property and extinguish sm

n If there are res that you cannot extingwith a small amount of water or in a shperiod of time, call 9-1-1.

Get SET- Prepare Your Family

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Los Angeles County Fire DepartmentIf you have an emergency, call 911Public Information Of ce (323) 881-2411Web site: www. re.lacounty.gov

Write up your Wild re Action Plan and post it in a location where every member of your family can see it. Rehearse it with your family.

Important Phone Numbers

Emergency:

School:

Family:

Friends:

Animal Shelter:

When to go:

Where to go:

How to get there:

What to take:

Who to tell (before and af ter):

During High Fire Danger days in your area, monitor your local mediafor information on brush res and be ready to implement your plan.

Hot, dry, and windy conditions create the perfect environment for a wild re.

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GOEarlyBy leaving early, you will give your family the best chance of surviving a wild re.

You also help re ghters by keeping roads clear of congestion, enabling them tomove more freely and do their job.

WHEN TO LEAVE

Leave early enough to avoid being caught inre, smoke, or road congestion. Dont wait to

be told by authorities to leave. In an intensewild re, they may not have time to knock onevery door. If you are advised to leave, donthesitate!

WHERE TO GO

Leave to a predetermined location (it shouldbe a low-risk area, such as a well-preparedneighbor or relatives house, a Red Cross shelteror evacuation center, motel, etc.)

HOW TO GET THERE

Have several travel routes in case one route isblocked by the re or by emergency vehiclesand equipment. Choose an escape route awayfrom the re.

WHAT TO TAKE

Take your emergency supply kit containing your family and pets necessary items, suchas cash, water, clothing, food, rst aid kits,medications, and toys. Also, dont forgetvaluables, such as your computer, photos,and important documents.

Organize your family members and makearrangements for your pets.

Make a Kit

Keep a pair of old shoes and a ashlight handy for a night evacuation.

Keep the six Ps ready, in case an immediate evacuation is required:

People and pets

Papers, phone numbers, and important documents

Prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia

Personal computers (information on hard drive and disks)

Plastic (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash

My Personal Wild re Action Plan

Destination:

n Insurance Papers n Photos n Prescriptions n Important Documents