For information about this Council, please contact: Antonio C. Alvarez 7711 Engineers Rd. Julian , CA 92036-1017 TONLIN355@MSN.COM Home: (760) 765-1737 Home: (909) 678-3858

Vol. 1 No. 4
Fall 2003

POKER RUN” SUCCESSFUL & FUN EVENT

(By Kenny Overmiller #80)

The CW Fire Safe Council general fund is $1,174 richer following the May 18th Poker Run sponsored by our community FSC. Many volunteers, not just the ones pictured on Pg 1 of this newsletter, worked hard at recruiting sponsors for prize & food donations, and setting up, cleaning up, manning 5 check-points, making signs, organizing advertising and publicity, writing thank-you letters to sponsors, and planning & follow-up on all the details! It was a huge community effort, but here are some of the comments made by these volunteers after the event:

* Everyone seemed to have a great time
* The food was good and plentiful
* No one who volunteered let us down; they came, they worked and they were happy
* YES, we would like to do this again!!

Consensus by all involved, including the car rally participants was to do it again next year! And with the experience of a successful fundraising event under our belt, we can even do better next time.

We had 41 cars entered with 2 or more persons per car. We also had income from raffle ticket sales of $110 and sold event t-shirts for a small profit. All in all, after some food and reproduction costs, the FSC netted a total of $1,173.60!

Thank you to ALL of you who donated time and effort before, during and after the event to make it a success. We could not have done it without you.

The proceeds from this event will be added to our funds for upcoming dead brush & tree clearing & chipping projects.

These topics will be discussed at the Annual Meeting &
Picnic on August 9th. I will look forward to seeing you there. We will tell you how you may benefit from participating in these fire prevention projects.

The following merchants in Julian & Wynola contributed cash, gift certificates or prizes for the CWFSC Poker Run event in May

We ask that you patronize these merchants
& please thank them for their support!!

Butterfield Bed & Breakfast
Julian Market & Deli
Julian Coffee House
Mom’s Pies
Larry Noble’s Construction
The Bird Watcher
Hidden Treasures Thrift Shop
(at St. Elisabeth’s Catholic Church)
Wynola Pizza Express

FIRE SAFE COUNCIL HAPPENINGS

CW Fire Safe Council gets a web-page

The State of California has a Fire Safe Council website at www.firesafecouncil.org Soon the Cuyamaca Woods will have a page or more on this website, thanks to the volunteer efforts of Tony Alvarez (#13). We will give you more details when the site is ready. (Thanks Tony, for your time & contributions!)

Fire & Emergency Evacuation List

On the following page (7) is an example list that may give you ideas for posting your own evacuation list. As we all know, evacuation became a reality for CW during the Peak Fire.
Don’t be caught unprepared. Cut/paste this generic evacuation list, but more importantly, get prepared by following the suggested steps on this list. Get your emergency phone numbers in order, as well as storing those important items that will go into the car first. In the event of a fire threatening your home or our community, you will not have time to think about what you want to pack then. Know ahead of time and have it all ready. Make your own list. Thanks to Dick Chandler & Lynette Perry for preparing the list, with suggestions by FSC members.

Fire Map Now Available for CDF & Firefighters

Thanks to Susan & Scott Stevenson (#187), there is a full map of the Cuyamaca Woods property boundaries which shows all the parcel address numbers, structures, driveways, possible fire truck turnarounds, water sources, tanks, hydrants, & size of fire hose connections. An architect, Scott made it his priority to prepare this map which is now available to CDF & the Julian/Cuyamaca Firefighters, to assist them in fighting a fire in our community. (THANK YOU SCOTT & SUSAN!! WELL DONE!)

MEETINGS

Greater Julian Fire Safe Council General Meeting
Monday, July 14TH 7 PM

Diane Jacob
S.D. County Supervisor
will address the group
about the fire issues facing the
Greater Julian communities

Meeting is held at
K.Q. Ranch Amphitheater
ALL ARE WELCOME
Wear your CW or FSC t-shirt!

The CWFSC members will be there & we would like to make a show
of community strength & support for the goals of the Greater Julian FSC. Wear your CW or FSC t-shirt!

CW Fire Safe Council Meetings
2nd Saturday of each month 9:30 AM

7079 Engineers Rd (Map#128)
Please Join us on:
July 12, 2003
July 14 (see article Pg. 6)
August 9 ( at Annual Meeting)

WHO TO CONTACT ON THE FIRE SAFE COUNCIL

Bonni Overmiller (Chair) 760-765-3163
Sandy Oyas (Vice-Chair) 760-765-3181
Marcy Diehl (Treas) 760-765-3543
Lynette Perry (Newsletter) 760-765-2059

REFERENCE

Fire Emergency or Evacuation List

Round up your pets; get them secured and ready to go into the car with no way of escape before they are loaded into the car (this is especially important with cats).

Make a prior arrangement to contact a neighbor or friend who might be available to help you in an evacuation situation with loading or driving a second or third vehicle, or to help with large animals such as horses/ penned animals etc.

Have pet carriers/leashes/food bowls/food/litter boxes/litter, and other pet needs ready to go & ready for car (store in a secure place so these are easily just loaded into the car).

Have very important files, back-up disk, small compact file box ready to go.

Include such things as homeowners policy, auto policies, life & investment files, bank records, legal documents, licenses/ etc. (or store in a fireproof safe or fireproof bunker).

Computer CPU (hard-drive most important) if you have no back-ups.

Photograph albums – have these ready, packed, stored in a secure place to go immediately into car (or store in a fireproof safe).

Cameras & expensive jewelry or important electronic devices.

Suitcase filled with old but useable clothing, socks, underwear, jackets, sweatshirt, extra shoes etc. Keep this packed ahead; include a bag for him and for her of toiletry items, including: deodorant, disposable shavers, extra toothbrushes, shampoo & shaving cream, toothpaste, extra regular medications to last a few days.

Area maps.

Pillows & light blankets (in case you might have to sleep outside while evacuated).

Folding chairs.

Flashlight.

All household & car keys/ wallet/ handbag/ cell phones & any credit cards you keep in a drawer that you might need.

Complete phone list or phone/address book, including cell phones of neighbors/family.

Special or valuable items (make your own list).

Close all windows.

Turn off propane gas at tank/ Remove BBQ propane tank - Take it with you or store in a secure place such as a bunker or away from your house.

Last thing after loading car: Apply foam to house if you are prepared to do this & have it available.

Notify someone (a key contact off the mountain) when you are leaving, and where you are going.

A detailed plan is also available, on line, prepared by the RED CROSS. Their address is:

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/evacuation.html

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Consolidated Fire Code, San Diego County Ordinance 9397

SECTION 16. CLEARANCE OF BRUSH OR VEGETATIVE GROWTH FROM STRUCTURES (Appendix IIA Consolidated Fire Code, Ordinance 9397)

GENERAL. Persons owning, leasing, controlling, operating or maintaining buildings or structures in, upon or adjoining hazardous fire areas, and persons owning, leasing or controlling land adjacent to such buildings or structures, shall at all times:

1. Maintain an effective fuel modification zone by removing, clearing or modifying away combustible vegetation and other flammable materials from areas within 100 feet from such buildings or structures. The fuel modification zone may be re-planted with either approved irrigated, fire-resistant planting material or approved non-irrigated, drought- tolerant, fire-resistant plant material. Re-planting of the fuel modification zone may be required for erosion control.

EXCEPTIONS: (1.) Single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or similar plants used as ground covers, provided that they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any structure. (2.) Grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet from buildings or structures and less than 18 inches (457mm) in height above the ground need not be removed where necessary to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.

2. Remove portions of trees, which extend within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney.

3. Maintain trees adjacent to or overhanging a building free of deadwood, and

4. Maintain the roof of a structure free of leaves, needles or other dead vegetative growth.

SPECIFIC. A 100-foot fuel modification zone is required around all structures. All fuel modification zones shall not extend beyond the property line. (Appendix IIA Consolidated Fire Code, Ordinance 9397) NOTE: (Abatement of Weeds and Rubbish, 6968, Section 68.404(a),(b)(c) for the enforcement of adjacent properties).

The fuel modification zone is divided into two zones as follows:
(Measured horizontally from base to building)

1. The first zone includes the area from any building to a point 30 feet away. This zone must be cleared and planted with fire resistive plants.

2. The second zone is the area between 30-100 feet from the building. In this zone, the native vegetation may remain but it must be thinned by 50% and all dead and dying vegetation must be removed.

PREMISE IDENTIFICATION: Consolidated Fire Code, Ordinance 9397, (Section 35.30901.4.4.1)

UFC Section 901.4.4.1 STREET NUMBERS. Approved numbers and or addresses shall be placed on all new and existing buildings and at appropriate additional locations as to be plainly visible and legible from the street or roadway fronting the property from either direction of approach. Said numbers shall contrast with their background, and shall meet the following minimum standards as to size: 4” high with a 3/8” stroke for residential buildings, 6” high with a ½” stroke shall be required where deemed necessary, such as rear access doors, building corners, and entrances to commercial centers.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE A MATCH TO START A FIRE

Every year, people trying to eliminate their fire hazards by mowing, start fires instead. Hot, dry, and windy weather are perfect conditions for a fire. Here’s how to keep cool, eliminate the fire hazard and prevent a fire:

1. Mow before 10:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. It it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot to mow. REMEMBER, DON’T MOW DURING THE “HEAT OF THE DAY.”

2. Keep the exhaust system, spark arrester and mower in proper working order, and free of carbon buildup. Use the recommended grade of fuel and don’t top off.

3. Avoid striking rocks with metal blades. A grass-hidden rock is enough to start a fire.

4. Keep the engine and cooling fins free of oil and dust. It reduces the chance the mower will catch fire and it will let the mower run cooler and last longer.

5. Keep the mower free of flammable materials. Check the grass outlet, around the blade, and the grass bag for obstructions.

6. Spark arresters are required on all portable gasoline-powered equipment. (Tractors, harvesters, chain saws and mowers).

7. Grinding and welding operations require 10 feet of clearance and a fire extinguisher.

8. Keep a shovel and a fire extinguisher handy. Call 9-1-1 in case of a fire.

BEWARE – LAWN MOWERS ARE DESIGNED TO MOW LAWNS, NOT DRY GRASS OR WEEDS!

CDF / San Diego Unit, Fire Prevention Bureau
San Diego County San Diego Unit
2249 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
(619) 590-3100

MISCELLANEOUS

NEED A CHIPPER?

Make a tax-deductible donation to
The CWFSC – BEST OFFER
Receive a Sears-Craftsman Chipper/Shredder
10 HP, Model #987.799930.
If still available, this pre-owned
chipper will be on display at the Picnic
Contact Sandy Oyas at 760.765.3181