I know this is a very challenging time and hope all of you are safe. As you can image, information regarding the Santiago Fire is constantly being updated. To that end, I want to provide valuable information and resources that may be helpful at this time. Also, please join me in keeping the families who have been evacuated, as well as our firefighters and other first responders battling the blazes, in our thoughts and prayers.

At a news conference today, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes cautioned the public to be on the lookout for “bad actors” looking to take advantage of the recent fire emergencies by calling residents and asking for donations. Please be advised that first responder agencies, such as the Orange County Fire Authority, Municipal Fire Agencies, Orange County Sheriff’s Department or Municipal Police Agencies DO NOT telephone individuals to ask for monetary contributions.

If you are contacted via telephone by someone claiming to be represent any of these agencies and asking for money, that is not a legitimate call. Please do not be defrauded by people trying to take advantage of other people’s losses during this time. If you would like more information, the best source of information is AlertOC.com.

For questions and general information, please call the public information hotline at (714) 628-7085

Helpful Links:

• If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for Alert OC to receive updates and notifications
• The Orange County Fire Authority has been updating their twitter page, @OCFA_PIO, regularly with updates on acres burned, contaminated percentage, and evacuations
• The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has launched a website that features resources on evacuations and evacuation.
• The Orange County Registrar of Voters is also updating their website to reflect out-of-service ballot drop off boxes that may be in evacuation areas.
• Also, visit the Southern California Edison website regarding any possible power safety shutoffs that may impact your area.

In previous years, my office was pleased to co-host the annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo held in the City of Mission Viejo, which featured a wide-array of state-of-the-art emergency response vehicles and equipment, including exciting displays and demonstrations by our Orange County Fire Authority and Sheriff’s Department, plus interactive vendor booths from numerous participating organizations, as well as thousands of attendees from throughout the 5th District.

At the 2019 South County Disaster Preparedness Expo in Mission Viejo.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as well as the State guidelines prohibiting mass gatherings, this year’s event was reimagined as the Virtual South County Emergency Preparedness Summit 2020, which aired twice daily from September 30 to October 21 on Cox Communications Channel 39 and is still available for viewing online.

This year has been the most destructive wildfire season in the history of California; however, the  fact is some of the most disastrous blazes in OC history have occurred during October and November, when Santa Ana winds are often prevalent, including the Freeway Complex Fire (2008), Santiago Fire (2007) and Laguna Beach Fire (1993). 

It's not a matter of whether another catastrophic wildfire will occur in OC, but when, especially in our communities adjacent to wilderness areas and open space. Get Prepared. Learn How!

2007 Santiago Fire as seen from Lake Mission Viejo

In the South County Emergency Preparedness Summit, you will hear timely presentations from several of Orange County’s leading experts on emergency preparedness during the age of COVID-19, including:

• Dr. Clayton Chau, County Health Officer - "COVID-19 in the County of Orange"
• Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes - "County of Orange Emergency Response Efforts"
• Donna Boston, Director, Emergency Management Division, OCSD - "Personal Emergency Preparedness"
• Fire Chief Brian Fennessy, Orange County Fire Authority - “Wildland Fire Preparedness in Orange County”
• Caroline Choi, Senior Vice President, Southern California Edison - “Public Safety Power Shutoffs”
• Doug Bauder, Vice President/Chief Nuclear Officer, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) - “SONGS Emergency Preparedness”

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

I hope our program will help you to better understand some of the ways Orange County is working hard to protect our residents in the event of a major emergency during the age of COVID-19, as well as how you can also better prepare yourselves, your families and local businesses. To view the South County Emergency Preparedness Summit 2020, please click here.

OC Fire Watch volunteers are a dedicated group specially trained to deter arson activity, ensure early fire detection and provide public education about fire danger. Fire Watch volunteers are not trained as firefighters, but provide an important component to prevent destructive wildfires.

The OC Fire Watch network is activated during Red Flag conditions when there is a high fire risk. Red Flag Warnings are issued by the National Weather Service during periods of high temperature, low humidity and high winds.

OC Fire Watch volunteers are deployed to high visibility areas posts, where ignition sources are likely, and widely distributed near wilderness open spaces throughout the OC Parks system. Posts are typically covered by two volunteers in four hour shifts. For more information, click here.