Fire
Links to active fire resources
Fire preparation
Important answers to important questions. Please read this and make sure everyone in your family does, too!
Prepare for a wildfire:
2. Install the "CalFire" app on your smart phone for notifications and checklists.
3. Prepare all the residents in your home for READY SET GO
What should I do if a house or barn fire occurs:
- Use a fire extinguisher, blankets, or water to extinguish a small fire
- If the fire is too large for you to put out, close the doors to isolate the fire and exit the house as quickly as possible
- (Take People -- and if you have time, take Pets/Keys/Purse/Wallet.)
- Go outside and call 911 with a cordless phone or run to your neighbors
- DIAL 911
- Tell the operator your lot number and street address. If your number is in our directory, it SHOULD show up on the Operator’s screen.
- After calling 911, if possible, please notify Rancho Carrillo First Responders for assistance:
- Keith Warren -0159
- Brent Chase -0128
- Nancy Streza -0711
- Robert Davis -1504
- Karen Ritter -1499
- Patty Stephens -9940
- If you cannot reach anyone, honk your horn. Use the Morse code "SOS" cry for help:
- 3 shorts - 3 longs - 3 shorts . . . ___ ___ ___ . . .
"I see flames directly along our access road or in Rancho Carrillo proper and no one is around it, who do I call?"
Call 911 first and then call a local volunteer firefighter. If it is small enough for you to safely extinguish with your fire extinguisher, do it!
"I smell smoke. What should I do?"
1. Look out your window, go outside and/or drive around the neighborhood
2. Check TV or radio for local news reports
3. Monitor emergency websites:
- CHP Traffic - (Change to Orange County in upper left corner box)
- Weather Underground - local weather.
- Current status of California fire incidents.
(You can sign up to receive Orange County major incidents by email at this website:
http://www.ocfa.org/Menu/AboutOCFA/SubscriptionSignup.aspx
4. Call a Rancho Carrillo Volunteer Fire Department member. (Above list)
How will I know if a forest fire is headed our way?
- You will smell smoke
- You will receive a phone call. We have a One Call Now system in place with our residents' home and cell numbers.
- (Update your numbers with Nancy at -0711)
- Watch or listen to the local news.
- Stay calm
- Keep the roads and driveways clear for fire equipment.
- Gather your valuables and 7 P's
- People
- Pets
- Papers (important docs: insurance papers, deeds, auto registration, passports, birth certificates, stock certificates)
- Prescriptions
- Plastic (credit cards/purse/wallet)
- PC (or MAC, flash drive, hard drive)
- Photos & Treasures (If you have time, take pictures of your home and belongings, inside and out)
- Load your escape vehicle and park it facing the exit. Leave keys in the ignition.
- GO & GO EARLY -- Don't wait for evacuation orders
The fire is getting closer – I don't want to evacuate. what can I do to help?
- Close all windows and doors as well as inside doors. Unlock doors.
- Open the gate to your driveway – disengage the motor
- Turn on exterior lights
- Close blinds and remove lightweight curtains.
- Turn off propane at the tank.
- Turn off the valves for lawn or tree watering sprinkling systems
- Put all flammable lawn furniture in the house or garage.
- Trim branches that are touching your house
- Close garage doors and disable openers
- Leave electricity on for lights and pumps. Leave an outside light on.
- Connect garden hoses so the firefighters can use them.
- Place ladder against front of house.
- If you leave a vehicle outside, park it away from the house, facing an exit in an open area, leaving plenty of room for many emergency vehicles to enter your driveway; leave keys in ignition. Close all windows. If you leave a vehicle in the garage, leave keys in ignition.
- Keep the access road to Ortega Highway clear so fire equipment can get up here.
- Turn horses and farm animals out of the barn and/or take them to the fire station arena. Close barn doors. Do not let them run loose in the valley or the wilderness.
DON’T DO THESE THINGS:
- Don’t Panic
- Don’t hose down your house or trees with water unless there are flames touching it. It will quickly evaporate and use up precious water.
- Don’t drive your horse trailer down the hill. It may prevent fire trucks from coming up.
- Don’t let your horses run loose in the valley. They are safer in a pasture or at the rec center’s arena.
- Don’t leave your animals in the house or barn. Either take them with you in your car, lock them in an outside pen or let them run loose.
- Don't interfere with professionals and trained volunteers who are trying to do their job.
Where do I go? What do I do?
- BE SAFE! Don’t put yourself or your family or your neighbors at risk.
- You may choose to go to the Fire Station. Use “Hooligan parking areas.” Stay calm. Offer to help or stay out of the way.
- If you choose to leave Rancho Carrillo, leave a message at the Fire Station (728-0600) where you are going and how you can be reached.
- In case of a quick evacuation – or if you are unable to get home to Rancho Carrillo, meet your neighbors in the parking lot of Ortega Center in front of Ballpark Pizza/Bravo Burger/Bad to the Bone in San Juan Capistrano (or a designated Red Cross Shelter). Call the RC Fire Department office for updates 728-0600.
- You should have an out-of-state emergency contact. Instruct your family members to call that number if the local phone lines are jammed during an emergency. The out-of-state person can help your entire family to keep in touch with one another.
- Rancho Carrillo has survived emergencies in the past. Make friends with your neighbors during good times, so that in case of emergencies, you will know who to call!
- DOWNLOAD THE CURRENT BROCHURE!
What should I do if I learn that a forest fire is headed our way?