By Mary O’KEEFE

The Crescenta Valley Fire Safe Council held a Community Open House on Monday where getting ready for the next wildfire was discussed.

Judy Turner, president of the CVFSC, welcomed those in attendance and described what the Council was and its goals. Roger Young, CVFSC founder and board member, gave an overview of who would speak and what subjects would be covered.

 “You need not be traumatized when you get that message; you need to evacuate if you are prepared,” Young said.

He outlined three areas that would be covered at the open house: how to create defensible space, home hardening and what to take if evacuated.

Defensible space is the area around a home that needs to be cleared of vegetation. The LACoFD recommends a 30-foot cleared space around the home. Home hardening deals with “ember intrusion,” Young said. He added that about 75% of structures that are burned during forest fires are started by flying embers.

“What happens is they start spot fires,” Young said.

What to take if evacuated dealt with having a plan for evacuation. According to the LACoFD’s Ready, Set, Go program, residents should have an emergency kit, out-of-state contact list, cash and credit cards, important documents, a change of clothing, family photos, baby items, personal hygiene items, pet care and special needs items like wheelchairs or canes and medications.

Dave Whitney, deputy forester from Los Angeles, shared the Ready, Set, Go film that covered several areas. The film began with those who have survived wildfires. They explained how fast the fire took over their neighborhoods. One woman explained how she ran upstairs at her home and picked up her purse and car keys. By the time she came back down, the fire was everywhere. Her home ended up being destroyed.

The video covered the area of evacuations as well.

“The better prepared you are the easier it will be for our firefighters to save your home in the event of a fire,” said the firefighter in the film.

He explained the importance of evacuating when the order comes down.

“As the fire approaches, deciding to go early or stay and ignore an evacuation order is one of the more critical decisions you will ever make,” the firefighter said.

For more information on the CVFSC, including membership, visit cvfiresafecouncil.com.

  Mary Okeefe