Like Pacific Palisades, Rancho Santa Fe gets warm, drying katabatic Santa Ana winds from the desert that lead to red-flag warnings and fuel wildfires. We can become so blasé when it comes to Santa Ana wind warnings that we may ignore them. But these winds were anything but ordinary. The Santa Ana winds last week were a magnitude not seen in 10 years, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning.”
Char Miller, a professor of environmental history at Pomona College and the author of the book “Burn Scars, A History of Wildfire Suppression in the United States,” recently explained in New York Magazine how the unusually high winds hindered even the ability to fight the fires from the air:
“I think it’s often talked about now as a worst-case scenario, because of the intensity of the Santa Ana wind event. When you’ve got winds 50, 60 miles an hour that are sustained, then gusts up to a hundred miles an hour, there is no way you can fight that fire. Absolutely none. Aerial attack is grounded when winds are over 40 miles an hour.”
As I write, powerful Santa Ana winds are forecast for our area to begin Monday, January 19, becoming very strong on Tuesday and Thursday. I’m no expert when it comes to wildfire safeguards, but based on what I have learned, I’ve taken the steps outlined below and am sharing them in hopes they may help you too. Consider what I’m saying to be general guidance. I can’t guarantee it will protect you from wildfires, and I suggest you consult our local fire officials and fire-fighting professionals for advice about your particular situation.
My suggestions don’t include design or construction choices, such as replacing single-pane windows with dual-pane, tempered glass for greater heat resistance. I’m just offering quick, inexpensive steps you can take if you’re concerned that a wildfire could be on its way toward your home.
Get Ready
1. Get a Fire Preparedness Inspection
Contact our local fire department to schedule a Defensible Space Inspection. Fire department inspectors can assess your home’s fire preparedness and hardiness, identifying areas that may need modifications to improve fire safety. I did this last October and I don’t know how long it may take you to set up an appointment. My appointment was set up by Permit Technician Jenny Huesias at the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District on Calle Ambiente. She can be reached at 858-756-5971.
Dan Shaffer (Schaffer@rsf-fire.org) conducted my inspection and it was reassuring to know that I had done everything the Fire Department recommended to my property in terms of landscape, vents, etc. He’ll point out anything the Fire Department would like to see modified and he’ll return to confirm that it’s been done correctly.
2. Stay Informed and Monitor Conditions
Staying informed about wildfire conditions is essential for timely preparedness and evacuation. Use these resources to stay updated:
- Visit ca.fire.gov for fire alerts and preparedness resources.
- Download the WatchDuty app (https://app.watchduty.org/) for real-time wildfire information in our area.
- Check the SDG&E Weather Awareness website, where SDG&E posts fire potential scores, as well as wind gusts, humidity and other relevant factors determining fire risk and whether they will turn off power to the grid to reduce that risk.
3. Develop an Emergency Plan
Ensure all household members know the evacuation routes and have a go-bag ready with essential items. Sign up for local emergency alerts and monitor wildfire conditions regularly using these resources: https://www.alertsandiego.org/ / sdge.com/alerts-sdge / watchduty.org / incidents.readyforwildfire.org / https://inciweb.wildfire.gov / https://gacc.nifc.gov/oscc/ / @Cal_Fire and @NWSSanDiego on X.
Get Set – Invest in Fire-Resistant Technologies
1. Upgrade Ventilation Screens
California building codes require ventilation from attics and mechanical rooms to the outside so you likely have windows, vents or doors covered with screens that potentially can let embers enter your home. Wind-born embers can ignite fires even at a long distance from the fire. Depending on when your home was constructed, or if your screens are in good shape, you may benefit from installing new, fine mesh, non-burnable screens. According to our local fire department, you should choose metal screens with a mesh size of 1/8 inch or smaller for optimal protection.
I installed this stainless steel woven wire screen mesh. It comes in a wide roll and is easy to cut with regular scissors and attached with a staple gun (don’t use adhesive as it may melt during fire conditions) or by making a customized frame.
2. Use Fire Retardants on Vegetation and Structures
Apply fire retardants to landscaping and structures and fire-resistant paints or coatings to structures to reduce flammability.
I bought two fire retardants that are used by some insurance companies to protect their insureds’ properties, and by private and public firefighters. One can be used well in advance of a fire and the other right before evacuation.
Phos-Chek LCE20W Fire Retardant is a long-lasting fire retardant that is a colorless version of the red solution dropped from aircrafts to fight fires by protecting vegetation around properties. It’s included on the US Forest Service Qualified Products List and delivers a proactive and preventive wildfire management solution that can be applied days, weeks or months ahead of wildfire season, or even during an oncoming threat.
Phos-Chek works by making wildland fuels non-flammable to create a fire-break, and works even when dry, so that a single application can offer long-term efficacy. It coats plants with a chemical barrier that prevents combustion. Once applied, it remains effective until the next soaking rain, offering extended protection during fire season.
Phos-Chek is applied to vegetation within the defensible space around your home, typically the first 100 feet. Phos-Chek LCE20W comes as a concentrate that you mix with water in a 5.2:1 ratio and apply using a common weed sprayer from the ground. Five gallons of the concentrate will make 26 gallons of solution, which will cover approximately 2,600 sq ft, depending on the foliage.
To purchase Phos-Chek, contact Bekha Rizzo, the customer service representative, at (385) 259-7212 or rrizzo@lncurtis.com. She was a great help and the product was drop-shipped directly to my home.
CitroTech by MightyFireBreaker
Steve Conboy, the inventor of CitroTech, describes this fire retardant as the safest and most environmentally friendly fire retardant and the only certified EPA safer choice in the industry. It is sold locally at Grangetto’s. The company also sets up customized wildfire defense systems on properties that can be activated by the homeowner. Marlene Donner, Rancho Santa Fe Fire District’s Fire Marshall, recommends CitroTech.
Thermo-Gel is a gel-based fire retardant designed for direct application on structures. This product creates a protective barrier that insulates against heat and flames. Unlike Phos-Chek or CitroTech, Thermo-Gel should be applied just before a fire approaches, as it is not designed for long-term protection.
You can purchase thermo-gel from the manufacturer by contacting Steve Simmons at (530) 515-7659, who will sell it to you at a fair price. Steve uses Thermo-Gel in his firefighting business that can deploy water tankers, equipment and crews to Southern California on 8-10 hours notice. Be wary of other online distributors. I purchased what’s called a Homeowner Protection Kit of Thermo-Gel online the day after the fires started in the Palisades. When I tried to buy a second kit from them four days later, the price had almost doubled.
3. Pump to Use Pool Water to Fight Fire
Consider investing in portable water pumps and hoses for added emergency preparedness. I purchased a semi-trash, gas-powered pump along with the longest discharge hose I could get, and a non-collapsible intake hose and suction strainer. If you have a pool, that water source becomes invaluable for fighting the fire or wetting down your property before evacuating using this pump. You’ll need a trash- or semi-trash pump and the strainer to be able to draw water in through whatever kind of debris the wind and fire throw into your pool. And because power is likely to be off during a wildfire event, it’s key to have the pump be either gas or propane powered.
Even if you have to evacuate and can’t use the pump yourself, leave it set up by the pool and a prominent note for firefighters letting them know it’s there. Houses that had similar set-ups in Pacific Palisades were saved, either by homeowners, or by firefighters, when the hydrants ran out of water.
Another way to use the pool water through the pump is to run a generator-powered sprinkler system, either on your roof if they can be secured against wind, or on the ground as this family did in Pacific Palisades. It’s key to use sprinklers that rotate or swivel like this.
Maintain Defensible Space
1. Fire-Resistant Landscaping
Use fire-resistant landscaping techniques to create defensible space around your home. This includes:
- Clearing dead vegetation and debris.
- Using fire-resistant plants that are low in resin and sap content.
- Creating defensible zones around your home, as required by local fire departments.
Creating and maintaining a defensible space around your home is critical to wildfire preparedness. Cal Fire recommends many practical steps you can take to protect your home from wildfires: Keep vegetation trimmed and remove dead plants, leaves, and other debris. Opt for fire-resistant plants and landscaping materials, and ensure tree branches are trimmed at least 10 feet away from your roof and chimney. Remove all tree branches at least six feet from the ground. Allow extra vertical space between shrubs and trees. Additionally, ensure that no mulch, or only a very small amount of mulch or tree bark, is within several feet of the house to reduce fire risk.
2. Prepare Your Home’s Exterior
- Clear your gutters of dry leaves and debris.
- Store flammable materials, such as firewood and propane tanks, at least 30 feet from your home.
- Seal exterior openings with weather stripping to block embers. Ensure garage doors close tightly.
- Bring any patio furniture, pillows, and waste receptacles inside or move them far away from the house.
- Install ember-resistant vent covers on attic vents. There are many brands of ember-resistant, fire-rated vent covers available depending on the size of your vents.
3. Create a Non-Combustible Zone
Establish a non-combustible zone within five feet of your home’s exterior. Remove flammable items like patio furniture, door mats, or plants, and replace bark mulch with gravel or bare soil.
4. Regular Maintenance
- Inspect your roof and exterior for vulnerabilities, such as loose shingles, cracks, or gaps.
- Ensure your chimney has a spark arrestor with openings no larger than 1/2 inch.
Go! – Leave When Evacuation Orders are Issued
If an order comes to evacuate, go so you are safe and the roads are kept clear for emergency responders. Staying too long may force their efforts into saving you and away from fighting to protect your property.
By combining these measures, the hope is you can significantly improve your home’s ability to withstand a wildfire. Wildfire preparedness is a community effort. Share these tips with your neighbors and encourage them to take similar precautions. Together, we can build a safer and more resilient Rancho Santa Fe to enjoy for decades to come.
Ellen Stiefler is a Covenant resident. You can contact Sergio Hernandez about doing any of this work: (760) 468-6694 or hernandez50@live.com