Wildfire Awareness Week Starts May 3rd

CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire Authority would like to remind all residents that starting Monday May 3rd will be Wildfire Awareness Week across the state. This is the time of year that CAL FIRE would like to remind all residents that California is in year round fire season and we are moving into peak season.

This years theme is "Ready,Set, Go" and as a homeowner you need to start with the "Ready" portion of this program. Is your property and family "Ready" for the imminent threat of Wildfire, Please refer to the following links for further information: http://www.readyforwildfire.org/ and http://www.fire.ca.gov/ .

During the the week CAL FIRE will be holding press conferences across the state at the following locations.
 Monday, May 3: Press Conference, CAL FIRE Aviation Headquarters, Sacramento at 1 p.m.
 Tuesday, May 4: Press Conference, Crafton Hills area, Yucaipa at 10:30 a.m.
 Wednesday, May 5: Press Conference, CAL FIRE Fresno Headquarters at 11 a.m.
 Wednesday, May 5: Media Availability, CAL FIRE Redding Air Attack base at 8 a.m.
 Thursday, May 6: Press Conference, San Mateo County at 11 a.m.
 Thurs, May 6: Media Availability, Fire Crew Preparedness Exercises, Paynes Creek, 11 a.m.

Copter 10 Rescues 15 Year Old Fall Victim

On April 24th 2010, Copter 10 was dispatched to a possible hoist rescue in the Palomar Mountain area. A 15 year old victim had fallen approximately 50 feet in a steep inaccessible drainage and rescue personnel had begun to hike to victim. Once on scene Copter 10 located the patient and determined that a hoist rescue would be necessary to extract the victim. A rescuer was lowered 168' feet and began providing treatment. Personnel carried the patient in a Bauman Bag upslope approx. 150’ to an extraction site. The patient was flown to an awaiting ambulance for transportation to the hospital.

Firefighters Support the Burn Institute

CAL FIRE Firefighters throughout San Diego County braved the elements in support of the San Diego County Burn Institute.

Proceeds benefit Burn Institute fire and burn prevention education programs and burn survivor support programs such as Camp Beyond The Scars for burn-injured children. All of the money raised through the Boot Drive stays in San Diego County.

Last year, more than 30 departments participated in the event, raising record funds at more than 60 intersections across the county!

CAL FIRE/San Diego County Sheriff cooperative helicopter program with another successful rescue this weekend in Anza Borrego desert.

Fatal Accident in Valley Center

On April 18th 2010 engine companies were dispatched to a traffic collision in the area of Old Castle Road in Valley Center. The first engine arrived at scene to find two cars had collided with major damage to both vehicles. Unfortunately two people lost their lives in this accident.

PRE-FIRE MANAGEMENT PROJECT

On the Cuyamaca Carbon Sequestration project, the planting in Cuyamaca State Park has been completed with 80,000 seedlings planted. The seedlings were planted this year by a professional planting crew hired by the State Park. Peter Leuzinger and David Janssen assisted with the overseeing of the planting. A large portion of these seedlings were planted in the area treated with prescribed fire on Middle Peak late last year.

Earthquake Preparedness

The first 72 hours after a major emergency or disaster are critical. Electricity, gas, water, and telephones may not be working. In addition, public safety services such as police and fire departments will be busy handling serious crises. You should be prepared to be self-sufficient — able to live without running water, electricity and/or gas, and telephones — for at least three days following a major emergency.
❏ Water. Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day and be prepared for a 72-hour period. A normally active person needs at least ½ gallon of water daily just for drinking.
❏ Food. It’s always a practical idea to keep a supply of non-perishable food on hand that can be rotated into your diet and replenished on a regular basis. Have a sufficient supply of canned or dehydrated food, powdered milk, and canned juices for at least 72 hours. Dried cereals and fruits and non-salted nuts are good sources of nutrition.
❏ Flashlights and spare batteries. Keep a flashlight beside your bed, at your place of work, and in your car. Do not use matches or candles after an earthquake until you are certain that no gas leaks exist.
❏ Portable, battery-powered radio or television and spare batteries. Most telephones will be out of order or used for emergency purposes, so portable radios or portable digital
televisions will be your best source of information.
❏ First aid kit and manual. Keep a first aid kit at home and in your car.
❏ Fire extinguishers. Keep a fire extinguisher at home and in your car. Some extinguishers are good only for certain types of fires — electrical, grease, or gas. Class ABC extinguishers are designed for safe use on any type of fire.
❏ Special needs. Keep a supply of special needs items, such as medications, extra eyeglasses, contact lens solutions, hearing aid batteries, items for infants (formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers), sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper), and any items unique to your family’s needs.
❏ Prepare customized emergency plans for people with disabilities in advance. Whether small or widespread, emergencies can pose special challenges for individuals with disabilities.
❏ Important papers and cash. Be sure to have a supply of cash for use if ATMs, banks, and credit card systems are not operating

VEHICLE HITS OAK TREE
The accident occurred just before 1 a.m. March 27, when the driver of a Acura RSX that was east bound on San Vicente Road in Ramona lost control of the vehicle. According to the CHP due to the vehicles high rate of speed the driver was unable to maintain control and crossed over the double yellow lines directly in front of a westbound CHP vehicle, in a effort to avoid colliding with the patrol car the vehicle steered off the road and struck a large tree and a large rock. The driver was pronounced the following night at Scripps Memorial Hospital and the passenger is listed as critical at Palomar Medical Center.

7.2 Earthquake Baja California

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/ci14607652.php