Cascade Canyon Firewise Evacuation Update #3

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning is issued by the Weather Service when they expect strong hot dry winds. Only a spark is needed to start a fire in such weather conditions. The spark can happen anywhere, in the grass beside the road, in your or a neighbor’s yard, blown from a campfire, or under a downed power line. If the fire fuel around the spark is sufficient, the spark can become a wildfire quickly, within seconds. When fuel conditions are right, the fire can spread rapidly and widely. The higher the flame gets in trees and houses, the further the wind can blow the sparks and embers, and the faster the wildfire spreads.

Evacuation Warnings issued by AlertMarin are different than Red Flag Days. Evacuation warning means prepare to go and an order means leave immediately.

When a Red Flag Warning is issued, there are things to do right away because you may not have time to do them after an Evacuation Warning is issued.

• Make sure everybody in your household knows a Red Flag Warning has been issued. Include your neighbors if you have time.
• Fill the gas tank or charge the battery of the car that you will use to evacuate. Park your car facing the road. No backing into traffic. Or out of the garage in a power outage. It will delay your escape.
• Get cash. ATMs and credit card machines may not be working. 
• Put your Go Bags, valuables, and anything else you plan to take with you near your exit door. Include your medicines.
• Keep the clothes you plan to wear near your bed. Long sleeve, long pants, cotton or wool - no synthetics, close-toed shoes.
• Remember your wallet, cash, and keys.  These clothes and what’s in your Go Bag may be all you have left.
• Put pet cages in a good location for loading them. Remember food and water for them.
• Move flammable outdoor furniture off your deck either well away from the house or inside.
• Walk around the house to make sure there is nothing burnable within 5 feet of the house and any outbuildings you want to save. Close all doors and windows.
• Review your evacuation checklist and map with the whole household.

Some people, especially those who have experienced wildfires, will take the opportunity to visit relatives or friends outside of our Red Flag zone. Or stay in a hotel by the Bay. It may be a good time to go on a vacation.  It is a way to beat evacuation traffic.

Some ideas to help firefighters

• leave a hose and nozzle hooked up near the front of the house
• leave a ladder near where they can get onto the roof

Other Items:

Ember Stomp at the County Fairgrounds near the Civic Center will have lots of information and opportunities to ask questions and talk with others practicing evacuation.  There will be entertainment for little kids.  You can assign your teens to look for things you still need to do.  It will be the same day as our practice evacuation from 11 to 5 pm.

When a Red Flag Day is declared we will put out signs at the entrance and at several intersections in Cascade Canyon to notify drivers and walkers. 

You can buy a special radio to receive Evacuation Warnings, Evacuation Orders, and Shelter in Place Orders that the County Office of Emergency Management issues via Alert Marin.  The radios use a loud sound to wake people up and to get attention throughout the house.  Fire Safe Marin has information and set up instructions for the radios. When you hear the Evacuation Order, get out as fast as you can.

There will be 5 free Chipper Days for us between June and November. The first one starts the week of June 5. They are for chipping brush and tree branches that you pile up on the street.  Go to the signup page to register and get information and instructions. You must register for them to come to your place.

French Broom Removal – This month is a good time, while the ground is still damp, to pull French and Scotch Broom.  You can reserve a puller (called an extractigator) from the library with your library card. 

You can help your neighbors by helping our Firewise group. We need people to put out signs, distribute literature and handouts, help us get everyone on this mailing list, and help us have a good time doing it.  Interested?  Email cascadefirewise@gmail.com  

Questions, comments or suggestions about Firewise?

Email us at cascadefirewise@gmail.com

Pamela Meigs, Minna Kim, Stephen Keese, Ray Moritz, Linda Novy, Cindy Swift, Kate Linscott, Jack Hunt

Join the team! Help us help our neighbors protect themselves from wildfires.