With fall fire season upon us, firefighters, emergency personnel, city leaders and volunteers spent Saturday morning delivering wildfire safety information door-to-door to San Diego residents.
Focusing on approximately 20,000 canyon-rim neighborhoods citywide, the groups met at locations such as the City Heights Recreation Center, the Allied Gardens Recreation Center and the Scripps Ranch Recreation Center. They then canvassed surrounding neighborhoods, leaving educational reading materials titled, “Ready, Set, Go!” at doorsteps.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Battalion Chief David Gerboth told NBC 7 that Saturday’s event was an important step in wildfire preparedness for San Diegans.
“[We’re] trying to educate people on wildfire season, and ensure people are planning and preparing,” he explained.
Gerboth said the “Ready, Set, Go!” concept is about residents being ready, looking at their homes and examining their defensible space before a fire hits.
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He said residents should also know exactly where their emergency items are, including important insurance documents, and be ready to heed evacuation orders from officials at any given moment.
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This is especially important, he said, because wildland fire season is now really year-round in San Diego, as locals saw with this year’s destructive May Firestorm.
The height of the season, however, is still September and October.
“The biggest message is preparation. Take it seriously. If you are asked to evacuate, you need to evacuate and let firefighters in there to do their jobs,” added Gerboth.
District 7 Councilmember Scott Sherman and his staff took part in the door-to-door fire prevention walk. Sherman told NBC 7 residents should be working together to spread the message of fire safety.
“Help your neighbor, work together; let each other know what we can do to make your neighborhoods safe from fires,” he said. “Be extra cautious.”
To learn more about the fire department’s “Ready, Set, Go!” program, click here.
