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Orange County to Take Aggressive Approach in Preventing Major Wildfires
One year ago this Thursday, the Freeway Complex fire broke out. The 30,305-acre fire destroyed 314 homes. Two years ago this past Sunday, the Santiago Fire ignited, eventually burning through 28,517 acres and destroying 14 homes.
Now, Orange County is developing a new system, which will launch this Thursday, that will deploy volunteers in and around county wilderness areas during Red Flag conditions. The OC Fire Watch program will also include
OC Parks will coordinate the deployment of OC Fire Watch volunteers in and around the County’s wilderness areas during designated Red Flag conditions. The Orange County Fire Department will train the fire watch volunteers in communication procedures and map reading, as well as how to recognize and report potentially dangerous situations.
The program will also include the raising of "Fire Alert" flags (see image) all around the county to inform the public that it is a red flag day.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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