OCEANSIDE, CA (Oct. 8, 2020) — Yes on Measure L: North River Farms is the first community to be supported by the Oceanside Firefighters Association – but that hasn’t stopped opponents of Measure L from brazenly using scare tactics to make false claims about wildfire risks. These fear tactics are not unlike fake news and have included advertisements and campaign signs featuring images of an Australian firestorm.
“It’s unfortunate to see people stoop to this level to try and win an election,” said Tony Manolatos, campaign manager for Yes on Measure L. “The primary opponents of Measure L are older and wealthier homeowners and landlords, some of whom don’t even live in Oceanside, and they’ve built their campaign on fear and fake news. We appreciate the Oceanside Fire Chief setting the record straight and we will do our best to try and reach Oceanside voters with this important information.”
The Oceanside Fire Chief recently said in writing that North River Farms will be much safer than existing communities and is not a wildfire threat. In fact, he said the community would actually help firefighters fight fires in the surrounding area.
In a letter dated September 24, Oceanside Fire Chief Rick Robinson said of North River Farms: “Structures will be built to meet Building and Fire Code standards for homes and commercial buildings in wildland urban interface areas…The building code requires non-combustible roof coverings, enclosed eaves, vent protection and other engineering to minimize fire spread and resistance to ember cast. What this means is that the impact of fire burning into the communities is much less that what exists today in established older neighborhoods. Furthermore, it is far less likely that a fire started within a new community would spread outside its borders.”
Measure L: North River Farms will be a safe community that includes more than 100 acres of farmland and open space that will help firefighters battle blazes in the area, which the Fire Chief noted are extremely rare.
“In regard to the proposed development in the South Morro Hills area, the plans presented to the City identify large areas of open space. This in addition to the construction features mentioned earlier, allow for command officers to choose the tactical decision (of using the community as a safe space). Properly planned and constructed communities are able to be used as areas of safe refuge which may provide short term protection for civilians and firefighters,” Robinson said in the letter. “In conclusion, it is my professional opinion that a well-designed, well-built community… should not be at any greater risk nor should such a development create a greater risk to the surrounding communities.”
It’s also important to note that according to CAL FIRE’s fire hazard map, the North River Farms site is NOT in one of the zones identified as a High Fire Severity Zone.
A YES vote for Measure L is a vote for fire safety improvements that will reduce response times to wildfires and medical emergencies by 50 percent, according to Oceanside firefighters. The community surrounding North River Farms is home to some of the worse response times in the city. The Oceanside Firefighters Association supports YES on Measure L because it will help firefighters save lives.
“As a firefighter, public safety will always be No. 1 for me. Vote YES on Measure L because North River Farms is exactly the kind of community we want to see more of – a community that will help us save lives by reducing our response times to wildfires and medical emergencies,” said Jacob Chambers, an Oceanside firefighter. “North River Farms combines both on-site fire resilience and off-site investment in our public safety and firefighting infrastructure. It includes a new station, a new truck and staffing for the station, which will improve 9-1-1 response times in the whole South Morro Hills area. That’s why the Oceanside Firefighters Association has supported YES on Measure L.”
YES on L: North River Farms Fire Safety Highlights
Public improvements: Measure L dramatically improves fire safety for the entire north-eastern community of South Morro Hills by putting first responders at their doorstep for speedier 9-1-1 response. At no cost to taxpayers, Measure L funds a NEW fire station, a fire truck and fire personnel to fully staff the new station – finally allowing the Oceanside Fire Department to meet its goal of 5-minute response times in this area – while investing $7.5 million in fixing and expanding evacuation routes. Measure L also will provide $1.6 million in annual tax revenue to Oceanside’s General Fund, which pays for firefighters, parks, libraries, road repairs and other neighborhood services.
On-site improvements: Safety features on-site at North River Farms include fire sprinklers in every house, fire-retardant exteriors for homes and commercial buildings, 50 new fire hydrants where none exist today, fire-resistant landscaping and new access routes to improve ability to manage fire fuel in the riverbed.
About Measure L
A YES vote for Measure L is a vote for North River Farms, San Diego County’s first farming community. Designed by locals, for locals, more than half of the 268-acre site is farmland and open space. If approved by Oceanside voters this November, Measure L will:
Produce locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables for Oceansiders and U-pick orchards.
Preserve agriculture with an 88-acre working farm – THE SIZE OF 67 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
Build a new fire station with funding for equipment and staffing.
Establish an agricultural education center for young children to learn about farming.
Create 10 miles of public hiking and biking trails.
At no cost to taxpayers, provide $7.5 million to widen North River Road and College Bridge, and improve all roads connected to the site.
Learn more: YesonLOceanside.org.
