Ahead of peak fire season in San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria and San Diego Fire-Rescue Chief Robert Logan joined public safety officials to announce new tools in the City’s firefighting assets and important steps all San Diegans can take to be prepared. The threat of wildfire is a year-round reality in San Diego; however, recent projections by the state have shown that Southern California is projected to particularly have a higher risk for fire conditions from late summer into the fall. It’s not a matter of if, but when a fire will start, and now is the time to prepare.

Same Mission, New Firefighting Resources

With wildfire risk projected to be above normal through October, including in recent weeks where we’ve experienced high heat and elevated fire potential across the region, the City of San Diego is not taking any chances. In addition to proactive interagency coordination and training alongside public safety agencies like the San Diego Police Department and Office of Emergency Services, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department has made investments into new firefighting resources:

• Two new Type 3 off-road capable brush rigs, bringing our total to 13 stationed across the city. These rigs hold close to 600 gallons of water and are designed to help crews get into tough terrain to stop the spread of wildland fires quickly.
• A brand-new Bell 412EPX helicopter will be placed into service this fall, replacing San Diego Fire-Rescue’s long-serving Copter 1, which has been in service for over two decades. The new helicopter is capable of night flight with advanced navigation, a 375-gallon water tank, and a high-capacity rescue hoist for everything from wildfires to cliff rescues.
• A custom 45-foot Mobile Command and Communications Unit. Put into service in mid-April of this year, the high-tech hub is built to support complex incidents, coordinate multi-agency responses, and even back up the City’s 911 dispatch system if needed. It has already been used in major incidents this year and has supported operations during large holidays and City events.

Helping San Diegans Mitigate Risk

San Diego Fire-Rescue has a new educational service available to help homeowners conduct their own home risk assessment. This new service provides education about no-cost and low-cost home-hardening retrofit options, defensible space and the new 0-5 ember resistance zone, giving homeowners valuable information to make their homes more insurable and defendable against wildfires.  The City has also invested about $6 million a year to manage brush on more than 1,000 acres of City-owned property, including land near City facilities.

Preparedness Starts with Us

While the City has taken proactive steps to be ready and resilient against our ongoing wildfire threat, every San Diegan can take simple-yet-critical steps to be prepared:

Get Ready:

• Defensible Space: clear brush and debris within at least five feet of your home.
• Create and practice an emergency plan with your household and loved ones.
• Download the no-cost Genasys Protect app to your mobile devices (used for evacuations) and register for AlertSanDiego, the County’s emergency notification system.
• Get to know your neighbors and determine how you can help one another during an emergency.

Get Set:

• Pack a go-bag with important supplies (e.g., water, non-perishable foods, clothes, a first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, portable charger, medicines, and important documents) and have it in an easy-to-access location in case you need to evacuate. Don’t forget to include supplies for infants, young children, older adults, family members with disabilities and pets.
• Monitor weather conditions, emergency alerts and check San Diego Fire-Rescue’s, San Diego Police’s and other public safety social media accounts.

And Go:

• If you are asked by local authorities and public safety officials to evacuate, don’t wait – leave immediately or leave early to avoid being caught in fire, smoke, or road congestion.

While we do everything in our power to protect our City, we can all make a difference by taking simple steps today to stay alert, stay informed, and be prepared. For more information on how to be ready and resilient for wildfire, and to download your very own Ready, Set, Go guide (in English or Spanish), visit sandiego.gov/wildfire.