The cities of Encinitas and Carlsbad are reminding residents of fire preparation as parts of the Los Angeles area reel from some of the most destructive wind-driven blazes in the region’s history.
A Red Flag Warning was set to expire by 6 p.m. Jan. 10 as parts of San Diego County faced strong Santa Ana winds, though less severe than those faced by the Los Angeles area communities of Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Malibu, Pasadena and elsewhere, in which wind-driven fires burned more than 35,000 acres total, destroyed thousands of structures and killed at least 10 people.
National Weather Service forecasters predict a return of Santa Ana winds to San Diego County between Jan. 12 and 15.
Encinitas
In a Jan. 10 public safety joint statement, Encinitas Interim City Manager Jennifer Campbell and Fire Chief Josh Gordon said that city officials and regional partners are prepared to face severe wildfire events. In particular, they cited the city’s Emergency Operations Plan, Olivenhain Evacuation Plan and Fire Pre-Plans.
“The City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is a comprehensive document that provides for a coordinated response to all hazards by City staff and emergency partners,” they said in the statement. “Complementing the EOP, the Olivenhain Evacuation Plan and Fire Pre-Plans serve as vital tools to enhance the safety of residents. These plans support firefighting and law enforcement personnel in coordinating safe and efficient evacuations, prioritizing life-saving measures, and fire suppression efforts.”
San Diego County pre-positioning two strike teams of 10 fire engines and 40 firefighters during the red-flag warning to respond to potential fire events throughout the county, including within Encinitas, they stated.
“The Encinitas Fire Department is fully staffed and, through mutual aid agreements with neighboring jurisdictions, is prepared to respond promptly and effectively to all emergencies within the City of Encinitas,” Campbell and Gordon said in the joint statement.
City firefighters also participate in countywide training with fellow agencies as well as wildfire training in Olivenhain and Saxony Canyon. Mitigation efforts through mandatory annual building inspections are also ongoing, they stated.
“Decades of investment in water resources and infrastructure ensure an adequate water supply for fire suppression,” they also stated. “Helicopters can access water from reservoirs like Olivenhain and San Vicente, and our regional emergency collaboration streamlines resource coordination where needed most.”
Carlsbad
In a Jan. 9 fire preparation statement, Carlsbad city officials addressed reports in Los Angeles that hydrants were running dry as firefighters battled those fires, and they explained how water moves to the city’s hydrants.
“There are different ways to move water from its source to our taps, or, in this case, fire hydrants,” Carlsbad officials stated. “Our system uses gravity to move water from place to place, with the right amount of pressure. That’s why you’ll notice that large water tanks are located on high points around our city.”
Carlsbad stated that the methods used to move water in regions of Los Angeles are different, and those methods caused a loss of pressure to reach the hydrants.
“Other systems, like the ones that had problems in the fires up north, use different methods to move water that can be more vulnerable to losing pressure,” the city stated. “So, it’s not that they ran out of water; they lost pressure needed to move the water through the system.”
City officials also urged residents not to use their own water hoses to fight wildfires in neighborhoods because it risks reducing critical water pressure for firefighters.
“Not only is it dangerous to ignore evacuation orders, but if everyone turned on their hoses at the same time, it would interfere with firefighters who need that pressure in nearby hydrants,” city officials explained.
Both cities recommended the following:
✔ Residents and businesses should have emergency plans, including escape routes, that include contingencies for basic needs such as food, water, shelter and sanitation for 72 to 96 hours.
✔ Register cellphones with AlertSanDiego, the county’s emergency notification system.
✔ Download the Genasys Protect and SD Emergency apps. Genasys Protect is part of a new countywide emergency alert system that allows first responders to use more precise geographic data when establishing evacuation zones and notifications.
Click the cities here for their respective emergency plan recommendations: Encinitas. Carlsbad. Planning and resources are also available from San Diego County, including other North County cities and communities.
Carlsbad and Encinitas have experienced the impacts of damaging wildfires in the past. In Carlsbad, the $22.5 million Poinsettia Fire in 2014 ended up destroying eight homes and an 18-unit apartment building, and it resulted in one fatality. In October 1996, Carlsbad’s La Costa community and Encinitas’ Olivenhain community suffered losses in the Harmony Grove Fire.