By TR Robertson
Hundreds of people took time on Saturday at midday to wander around the Gas & Steam Engine Museum Community Park, visiting with representatives from numerous agencies distributing information about Fire Prevention and Earthquake Safety at the San Diego Wildfire Safety Fair. This is the second year the Fair has been at GSEM. This annual event is sponsored by San Diego Gas & Electric and takes place at this time of year in four locations. Vista is the third location for this year, and Valley Center will be the final presentation. Along with representatives from a number of different departments of SDG&E, other agencies, businesses, volunteer and non-profit groups, totaling over 30 groups, set up tables to pass out literature, show demonstrations and answer questions the public may have about fire and earthquake safety. Information was provided on Customer Assistance Programs, Emergency Management, Generator Safety, Defensible Space Around Homes, Fire Agencies, Volunteering with a number of different organizations and much more. At the check-in table, visitors were given large SDG&E tote bags containing a Wildfire Safety booklet that contained a wealth of information about safety at home, forms for evacuation preparedness, disaster awareness, and residential rate assistance. The majority of all of the forms were in English and Spanish.
Moving along the tables, there was a disaster preparedness kit displayed, handouts on making an evacuation list for vehicles, pets, and personal info. Cool Zone tips were available as well as medical assistance contacts. SDG&E had Customer Care Center personnel available to answer questions. Their Community Resource Center Program personnel provided information about relief for residents in the event of a power shutoff. Children’s activities were provided at the Fair.
This free event brought out hundreds of interested people to the 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. event. Along with this, free lunch was provided as well as coffee and refreshers. Serving smash burgers and bacon-wrapped hot dogs was provided by Doggos Gus. In a modified older Volkswagen van, Coastal Drift Collective provided water, different lemonades and other refreshers. Regium served specialty coffee.
The following is a list of a number of agencies, departments, organizations and assistance that were represented at the Fair along with contact information you can access to get more details.
Vista’s Gas & Steam Engine Museum – www.agsem.org – 2040 N. Santa Fe – 760-941-1791 Summergrass 2026 bluegrass festival held August 14-16
211 info – www.211.org or www.211sandiego.org – Flex Alert information – Guides for health services, food and diaper assistance and free tax preparation – www.PepareForPowerDown.com
California insurance assistance – www.insurance.ca.cov – information if your home or property affected by natural disasters and what assistance is available – Senior Tips for insurance provided SDG&E Generator Assistance
Program – info about generators available – www.sdge.com/wildfirekit
CERT – Community Emergency Response Team – Amanda Young Rigby – email cert@vista.gov or go to www.vistacert.com – volunteers needed for organization – affiliated with Vista Fire Department – monthly meetings and training provided – assist when needed with fire situations
Just Serve – www.Justserve.org – volunteer service opportunities available
Burn Institute – www.burninstitute.org – burn survivors support information – free smoke alarms available for seniors at emailing smokealarms@burnintitute.org
American Red Cross – www.redcross.orgSoCal – Kearny Mesa location – volunteers needed
CORE – Community Organized Response – non-profit organization – Disaster Ready Guides and Mental Health Guides available – www.l.com.org and www.tinyurl.com/CountyMH also go to www.wildfirezone.org
County of San Diego Animal Services – protecting your pet during wildfires or disasters – www.sddac.com – 619-767-2675
San Diego Humane Society – www.sdhumane.org – 619-299-7012 – volunteers needed
Earthquake Country Alliance – www.earthquakecountry.org/step5 – Info on the Shake Out set for the 3rd Thursday in October – earthquake safety and preparedness – provided a personal document protecter to have in home – program began at USC
Forest Service – U.S. Department of Agriculture – Ranger from Cleveland National Forest passing out information on Fire Prevention when camping or visiting – www.smokeybear.com – www.PreventWildFireCA.org
SDG&E Vegetation Management – passed out info on maintaining property around powerlines – gave away small crepe myrtle trees for home and seeds for children to grow -. Handout Tree Care for Power Safety – www.sdge,com/safety/tree-safety-and-vegetation-management
Energy Cloud – air purifiers – www.energycloudinc.com – for homes or businesses especially in fire prone areas.
Community Fire Response – www.communityfireresponse.org – information on home safety – Fire Protection System – www.robusthomedefense.com
San Diego County Fire Cal Fire – www.sdcountyfire.org – Volunteer Reserve Firefighter Program
SDG&E Wildfire & Climate Science Division – information on emergency management and importance of climate evaluation when fighting fires – www.sdge.com/sdges-wildfire-and-climate-resilience-center
SDG&E – Aerial Utility Support – SDG&E Emergency Management Aviation Services – use of drones in assisting with issues relating to power lines and fires – www.adge.com/wildfire-safety/aviation-services
Golden Pacific Powerlink – proposed new 500-Kilovolt transmission line creating a new high-capacity pathway to help deliver electricity to SoCal – www.goldenpacificpowerlink.com
Vista Fire Rescue – www.vista.gov/departments/fire-department
Fire Safe Council of Vista – David Gomez President – volunteers needed – email FireSafeVista@gmail.com – work on evacuation routes in case of disaster or fire
Coastal Drift – Good Vibes on Wheels – refreshments – www.coastaldriftcollective.com – Charlie LaVerde – 619-732-6118
Regium Coffee – www.regiumcoffee.com – mobile coffee cart service – Ricardo and Priscilla Gomez – 619-481-0023
Doggos Gus Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs – www.doggosgus.com – also located in The Church by The Lost Abbey on J Street in East Village of San Diego – 760-427-2409
King Kreme – www.kingkreme.com – mobile soft serve Truck – 619-818-2384
