Dear Resident,

As you can see, the 2011 fire season is already underway, and soon our region’s Santa Ana wind conditions will be added to make it even more challenging for our firefighters – and for you as the owner of a property in the wildland areas of Los Angeles County.

If you live in what firefighters call the “urban interface areas,” you face the added risk of wildfire. Fire is, and always has been, a natural part of this landscape, but many have chosen to live in brush-covered canyons and on hillsides. These areas have historically burned long before homes were built.

All of us at the Los Angeles County Fire Department will take every precaution to help protect you and your property from wildfire. Our firefighters are proactively meeting with many local community groups within the wildland areas to share the important message of preparation.

We have published this Ready, Set, Go! Wildfire Action Plan to give you the tips and tools to successfully prepare for a wildfire. It will teach you what needs to be done to retrofit your home with fire-resistive features. It will also help you create the necessary defensible space around your home. This publication will help you prepare your home, yourself, and your family so that you can go early, well ahead of a fast-approaching fire.

As I mentioned earlier, wildfires are often fueled by dry vegetation and driven by hot, dry “Santa Ana” winds, making them extremely dangerous and impossible to control. Some of our residents do not fully understand the impact that a wildfire could have on them, and few have adequately prepared their families for a quick evacuation. Take the time now to sit down with your family members and review the Ready, Set, Go! Wildfire Action Plan. Go early – before the fire reaches your neighborhood!

The most important person in protecting your life and property is not the firefighter, but yourself. Through advance planning and preparation, you will be ready for the next one. For more information, or to schedule a Ready, Set, Go! presentation by our firefighters, please call our Public Information Office at (323) 881-2411.

Very truly yours,
Daryl L. Osby
Los Angeles County Fire Chief