[Vista Fire Chief Ned Vander Pol kindly provided this overview of our wildfires and their toll.]
This year has seen the most acreage burned in the State of California. Over 4 million acres have burned, making 2020 by far the most destructive fire season, in terms of acres burned. Unfortunately, the fire season is not over yet, and rains in Northern California are not in the forecast, plus Santa Ana winds have not yet started in Southern California.
As wildfires burn across the state, it is the combined effort of all firefighters that protect the lives and properties that are threatened. Vista Fire Department personnel are part of the massive effort of fighting the fires. The Department, at one point, deployed 16 firefighters across the state from the Valley Fire in Alpine, to the Red Salmon Fire, near the border with Oregon. The City of Vista participates in a statewide mutual aid system that accesses fire engines and firefighters from the entire state, so as not to overburden one specific or impacted area. In addition to sending fire engines to fires throughout the state, the Vista Fire Department also assigns personnel to supervisory positions. On the large fire events, there are multiple other ways Vista firefighters assist, and some members are trained as fireline paramedics, field observers and public information officers. Regardless of the assignment, Vista firefighters are an integral part of the state firefighting effort.
Despite the involvement and commitment to the statewide firefighting effort, the Vista Fire Department is always prepared and staffed to handle emergencies in the immediate area. San Diego County fire agencies work together to ensure personnel are ready, equipped and trained to respond to emergencies in our local area. While the time on the firelines takes its toll on firefighters, each member also understands their commitment to protecting life and property.
Residents can help out by planning for wildfires before they occur, being aware what is happening in their region, and acting when the time comes.
Planning involves creating defensible space around your home, preparing an emergency supply kit, and practicing evacuation scenarios. Staying informed is critical in an emergency and there are multiple ways to stay up to date with the latest reliable information. ReadySanDiego.org is a great resource for vetted information. The City website and social media channels also share information from the County and other emergency management sites. Most important, when the time comes to evacuate, it is imperative that residents follow the direction provided by law enforcement or other emergency management personnel. This year’s seasonal forecast is predicting more Santa Ana
wind events than normal as well as ongoing dry conditions. These factors contribute to large fire events and now is the time for residents to be prepared and informed.
www.readysandiego.org
www.cityofvista.com
www.readyforwildfire.org
