What Can I Do to be Firewise?

Prevent

• Practice Good Defense - follow the Defensible Zones property maintenance guidelines

• Refer to the Carmel Valley Association's Guide for Conservation Fuel Management for maintenance of property

• Landscape your yard with fire-resistant, drought tolerant plants
  

 Be Alert (ed) 

• Know your Evacuation Zone:  Oak Meadow and Quail Canyon are MRY-D027.  Southview is D041

• Sign up for Alert Monterey County - Office of Emergency Services offers an alerting system you can sign up for

• Register for CAL FIRE Text Alerts  of local Fires 

•  Monitor PULSEPOINT - a website of all emergency incidents in 3 local counties - type in "CAL FIRE BEU"

•  Monitor ALERT CALIFORNIA CAMERAS   for live camera views of all parts of California

• Sign up for the Rancho Del Sol Emergency Text Alert Program - contact Judy Tschirgi at webadminstrator@ranchodelsol.org - this is just for the Rancho del Sol neighborhood

• Download the WATCH DUTY app for your mobile phone - alerts you to local fires by county often before the authorities do.  Provides updates on firefighting efforts.  Information sourced by volunteers such as Big Sur Kate.  This is highly recommended.

 Have a Plan

• CAL FIRE Pre-Evacuation Planning Guide- prepare before a fire 

• Monterey County Department of Emergency Planning EMERGENCY PLANNING GUIDE - excellent new guide

• Pet CAL FIRE'S SITE on Saving Pets and Monterey County SPCA Disaster Preparedness Site
  

• Check up on your insurance - some insurers offer DISCOUNTS for Fire Hardened Homes and/or Communities

• For information on loss of insurance or help getting insurance, United Policyholders has a great site for help with all insurance needs:    UP HELP for insurance 

  And if you must evacuate....

• Follow CAL-FIRE instructions - GO EVACUATION GUIDE!  for preparing your home (if you have time)

• Be familiar with your own shelter-in-place or evacuation plan so you can move quickly