Fire

"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 - http://cad.chp.ca.gov/ (Change to Orange County in upper left corner box)
• Wunderground.com http://wxug.us/176gb
• Current status of fire incidents - http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current

(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 Dept 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!