JULIAN FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
Our mission is to provide information, education and training to the citizens of Julian to promote fire prevention and safety in our community.
Backcountry Communities Thriving is the fiscal sponsor of the Julian Fire Safe Council. We welcome any input from the community and hope to engage as many residents in the efforts to protect our homes and neighbors. If you would like to volunteer with the Julian Fire Safe Council or learn how you can help, please contact us at jfsc@bc-ct.org.
Please consider donating to the Julian Fire Safe Council
The Julian Fire Safe Council is made up of community volunteers who tirelessly search for ways to educate the Julian community about wildfire safety and provide support wherever we can. This includes writing grants for funding to provide assistance for defensible space clearing, educational programs and emergency supplies. If you would like to support the Julian Fire Safe Council, please make a donation to Backcountry Communities Thriving (BCT) on our behalf. BCT is our fiscal sponsor and will make sure that your donation comes directly to us! Thank you in advance!!
Click here to download the Wildfire Evacuation Checklist from FEMA. If you are having trouble downloading the document, please feel free to stop by our office at 2007 Main Street, Suite B for a printed copy.
Home Insurance Shopping Help Webinar
United Policyholders recently held a webinar to discuss:
What to do if you are “dropped” (non-renewed) by your insurance carrier
What you can do to keep your insurance affordable
The current California home insurance marketplace
Insuring your home through the CA FAIR Plan
Home improvements that should qualify you for insurance discounts
If you missed the webinar, you can watch the recording online. United Policyholders also has resources available regarding insurance the topics covered above.
Sign Up for a Free Reflective Address Sign
The Julian Fire Safe Council received a grant from the San Diego Fire Foundation to provide Julian residents with one free reflective address sign per residence. The sign measures 6" x 24" and comes with 4" numbers that can be displayed vertically or horizontally. Complete the request form to order yours today!
Landscaping / Contractor Services
We all need help with clearing our properties in the backcountry. Below is a list of individuals and businesses who offer landscaping services. Please note that JFSC does not officially endorse any of those listed here. This is for your information only.
A&M Chipping n' Splitting 619-876-2511 Ace Ramos 760-997-3608
Blaines Tree & Chipping Services 760-315-6864 JJ Ramos 760-825-9118
C.W. Handyman Services & Hauling 619-335-0967 Renee Saldivar 760-545-3705
Julian's Happy Helpers 760-765-0506 Dylan Delgado 760-525-8649
LTC Forestry Inc. 760-654-3569 Todd Russell 619-345-1770
SDC Cleaning & Yard Services 760-270-6081 Victor Seth Jacob 760-440-6973
The Tree Fairy 760-315-9735 Prepared Property 951-440-8721
Wildfire Fuel Management 781-718-6445 Bar D Bar Landworks, Inc. 760-498-3834
San Diego Brush Clearing 760-760-1941 Pope Tree Service 619-929-2667
Patriot Group 951-834-3809 Estate Tree Service 760-440-9138
Daniel DeWitt 760-419-7635 Four Seasons Tree Service 760-310-5156
El Encino Tree Service 760-215-1150
What is a Firewise USA Community?
Home ignition zones often overlap onto adjacent properties. This makes the conditions of neighboring homes and vegetation a part of the wildfire threat. It's extremely important that neighbors work collaboratively with each other (and talk with each other) to reduce their shared risk.
Firewise USA® is a voluntary program that provides a framework to help neighbors get organized, find direction and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community.
Organize it
Create a board or committee of volunteers to represent your community, including residents and partners such as local forestry agencies or the fire department. Identify a resident leader who will be the program point of contact. The board or committee defines the boundaries of the site and determines the number of individual single family dwelling units. Minimum of 8 dwelling units and a maximum of 2,500.
Plan it
The board or committee will collaborate with their local wildfire expert to complete a community wildfire risk assessment. The assessment should be a community-wide view that identifies areas of successful wildfire risk reduction and areas where improvements could be made. Emphasis should be on the general conditions of homes and related home ignition zones. The assessment is a living document and needs to be updated at a minimum every 5 years. The board/committee will use the risk assessment to create a three-year action plan, broken down by year, that identifies and prioritizes actions to reduce ignition risk to homes.
Do it
Each year, neighbors complete educational and risk reduction actions identified in the plan. These go towards your site's annual reporting efforts. At a minimum, each site is required to annually invest the equivalent of one volunteer hour per dwelling unit in wildfire risk reduction actions. If your site has identified 100 homes within its boundary, than 100 hours of work or the monetary equivalent, based on the independent sector value of volunteer time, need to be completed for that year.
Tell Firewise USA® about it
When the above criteria have been met, the Resident Leader applies for recognition through the Firewise® Portal, describing educational and mitigation work in the site. Each year, sites renew their status by reporting their activity.
Home Assessment Program
The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County is offering FREE home ignition zone and defensible space assessments. For the Julian area, Home Assessments are being scheduled for March 24th - March 28th and September 22nd - October 3rd. Trained staff will provide education, evaluation and recommendations to help you meet your wildfire resilience goals. Registration is required through the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County website.
Defensible Space Assistance Program
The Defensible Space Assistance Program (DSAP) is designed to assist homeowners that need to create defensible space, and are not able to do so because of physical, economic or other barriers. Please note that homeowners will need to participate in the Home Assessment Program first. Visit the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County website for additional information and program guidelines.
Community Chipping Program
Once you’ve done the hard work of preparing the space, contractors will come out and chip the cleared vegetation for you, free of charge. The chips are left with you and can be used as a weed suppressing mulch on your property. Visit the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County website for additional information and program guidelines.
County of San Diego Agriculture and Livestock Pass Program
All commercial livestock or agricultural operators and managerial employees in the unincorporated area are now able to apply for an Ag Pass. When a mandatory evacuation order is given, all people, including Ag Pass holders, must evacuate. When fire and law enforcement leaders allow, Ag Pass holders will be able to return to the area to move, feed and provide veterinary care of livestock, or work on irrigation systems, farm equipment and other essential infrastructure.
Ag Pass access is limited to daylight hours and doesn’t guarantee entry to an evacuated area. Fire and law enforcement officials make the decision for entry based on fire behavior and public safety. Click here for more information about the program.
Residential KnoxBox Program
In the event of an emergency, it is important that first responders are able to reach residents as quickly as possible. When doors are locked, this slows down the response time. The San Diego County/Fire Protection District's Residential KnoxBox Program is designed to give residents a back-up plan to be accessible during a crisis.
Qualifying residents will receive a lock box at no cost. Inside, a spare house key can be stored for access by fire personnel during emergencies. Requirements for the program are:
You must live in San Diego County Fire service area (Julian is in the SDCF service area)
One of these must be true:
You are 62 or older.
You have a disability.
You need help with one or more Major Life Activity (MLA). This includes caring for yourself, eating, using your hands.
Visit the County's website to see if you qualify and to apply.
Free Smoke Alarms for Seniors
The Burn Institute offers free smoke alarm installations for seniors 62 years+ who own their own home in San Diego County through their Fire-Safe Seniors Program. If you meet these qualifications, fill out their form and someone will contact you shortly to complete the sign-up process. Once registered, trained, screened volunteers will set-up an appointment time to install alarms up to California State Fire Code in your home free of charge.
Lessons from Paradise
Survivors of the catastrophic wildfire that burned through Paradise in 2018 draw from their experience and immense personal loss to warn us about what can happen if we don’t take action to protect ourselves and our homes. The urgency of their message cuts deep.
Defensible Space Zones
Defensible space, coupled with home hardening, is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. Defensible space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it helps protect your home from catching fire—either from embers, direct flame contact or radiant heat. Proper defensible space also provides firefighters a safe area to work in, to defend your home.
Zone 0 : Ember Resistant Zone
Zone 1: Lean, Clean and Green Zone
Zone 2: Reduce Fuel Zone
Visit Cal Fire's website for complete descriptions of each zone and to download brochures and useful checklists to keep you, your home and your neighbor safe from a wildfire.
Preparing Makes Sense for Pet Owners
Helpful tips to keep the four legged members of your family safe too.
Create a Pet Disaster Plan
The County of San Diego Department of Animal Services offers free disaster plans and guides to help you help your pets and livestock.
Animal Evacuation Tips
Do you have an evacuation plan for your pets and livestock? Download a copy of Cal Fire's Animal Evacuation tips.
Useful Links
Ready for Wildfire - Wildfire is coming... Are you ready?
Real Estate Inspections (AB-38)
Sunrise Powerlink's Defensible Space Grants Program
Burn Demo - Exterior Wall Fire Demonstration
List of Items Recommended for your Emergency Kit/Go Bag
Have a portable radio or scanner and plenty of batteries to stay updated on the fire – phones and TVs may not work.
Emergency contact numbers
Extra emergency kit in car – in case fire cuts you off from your home.
Cash – credit cards may not work due to lack of electricity -a minimum of $200 in denominations less than $20.
One gallon of water per person and per pet per day.
Three days of nonperishable food and one week’s supply of any special foods needed for medical purposes or for children.
Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels, can opener.
One week + supply of medications
First aid kit
Plastic bags, garbage bags
Blankets
Extra clothes, comfortable shoes, hat, sunscreen
Pocket knife
Personal hygiene items, e.g. women’s products, toilet paper
Fire Extinguisher
Face mask for each member of family.
Tools to turn off gas and water – If you have time, turn off gas, electricity and water.
Flashlights
Cell Phone Charger
Glasses, sun glasses, hearing aids
Matches in a water proof container
Books or games
Local maps
Paper and pen
Important papers:
Copy of your passport or driver’s license
Children’s birth certificates
Marriage or divorce papers
Insurance information
Titles for any property you own
Tax information
Pictures
(List of items provided by San Diego Regional Fire Foundation)
Julian Fire Safe Council Board of Directors
Kim Simas - President
William Everett - Vice President
Hilary Ward - Treasurer
Donna Garcia - Secretary