News
Upcoming Event!
Ramona – Home and Life Survivability in the Wild Land Urban Interface Event, hosted by CalFire
Sat, July 10, 2021
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
This course will be held in the Community Room of the Ramona Library.
Have you ever wondered how to give your house the best chance of survival in a wildfire? Have you wanted to meet your local firefighters, and learn what they do during wildfires? Are you interested in hearing about what others in your community are doing to help protect your neighborhood?
About the course:
- A half-day, in-depth class covering the principles used by firefighters in suppressing wildland fire in the Wildland Urban Interface. The focus is on life safety.
- Participants will learn how to best protect their family and home from wildfire.
- The class will include discussion about survival tips based upon evacuation procedures.
- Participants will also learn about fire behavior prediction, and how to apply this knowledge to the community’s unique topography, fuels, weather, and fire safety challenges.
Participation in the event requires a release of liability and waiver. For more information or help registering, please use the Contact Organizer feature below.
This event is hosted by the local Fire Safe Council and administered by San Diego County Fire in cooperation with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
New Program Offers Plan B for Reaching Residents in Distress
By Michele Clock, San Diego County Fire
Imagine you’re having chest pains, or you’ve taken a serious fall inside your home. What if no one could get to the front door to let in firefighters?
A new program is offering a back-up plan, to ensure your front door doesn’t stand in the way of getting help.
San Diego County Fire’s Residential KnoxBox Program is now providing free lock boxes that will hold a spare copy of your house key. County Fire will install the box just outside the front door for quick fire department access. The boxes can only be opened by local firefighters responding to life-threatening emergencies. Fire personnel will be able to reach residents more quickly when seconds count.
To qualify, residents must:
- Live in San Diego County Fire Authority, Ramona Municipal Water District, or Deer Springs Fire Protection District coverage areas.
- Be any of the following: at least 62 years old, have a disability, or need assistance with one or more Major Life Activity.
To apply, or for questions, contact San Diego County Fire at 858-974-5744 or FireCRR@sdcounty.ca.gov. Applications and more information available at sandiegocounty.gov/sdcfa.
National Preparedness Month (September 2020)
A Note to the Community from the American Red Cross Southern California
You may already know that September is National Preparedness Month. This is the month to ensure that you, your loved ones, your neighbors, your co-workers and even your pets and service animals are all prepared for any type of disaster.
We have all seen the devastation across California with recent wildfires burning millions of acres of land. Thousands of families had to quickly evacuate and thousands of structures were destroyed. There are over 15,600 firefighters in California risking their lives and risking getting COVID-19 trying to save people, pets and homes. Some of them have given their lives trying to do so. If you appreciate their sacrifice and dedication to their work, don’t just thank them. Help them by making their jobs a little easier and get your home, your family, and your community prepared.
They are doing their part. It is time for us to do ours.
The American Red Cross Southern California Region will be hosting a series of virtual preparedness presentations throughout the month on different disaster topics. Join us for these presentations and take the necessary steps to being prepared. We wrap up the month with a preparedness game to see how much you know and how you measure up to others. Below and attached is a list of dates. We also have a link to them here: Preparedness Month Presentations.
In addition, please help us get the information out into the community by sending this email to any communities, organizations, or individuals that still need to get prepared.
| Date: Friday, September 11, 2020 @ 2PM (PST)
Topic: Preparedness Essentials – Get a kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/2G7GVus | Date: Friday, September 18, 2020 @ 10:00AM (PST)
Topic: Wildfire Preparedness Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/3jsBUuU |
| Date: Friday, September 25, 2020 @ 4PM (PST)
Topic: Earthquake Preparedness Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/2Gfwjd9 | Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2020 @ 10AM (PST)
Topic: Home Fire Preparedness Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/3hJBmR3 |
| Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2020 @ 6PM (PST)
Topic: Game Night – Put Your Preparedness Knowledge to the Test! Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/3hLFZd8 |
Thank you for your help in getting our community ready. Wishing you all a safe and healthy National Preparedness Month!
Press Release (June 26, 2016)
Ramona West End Fire Safe Council Dead and Dying Hazardous Tree Program
The Ramona West End Fire Safe Council has been awarded a grant to remove dead and dying trees in the Ramona Community Planning Area within 100 feet of a home and/or 30 feet of an access road.
This grant is available to assist homeowners to be in compliance with State and Local Fire Codes (PRC 4291 and County of San Diego Ordinance No. 10147):
www.sandiegocounty.gov/cob/ordinances/ord10147.doc
Property owners will be expected to contribute 20 percent for the tree removal, up to $200 per tree. Funding will cover a limited number of trees, so all requests may not be fulfilled. Any applications not fulfilled will be retained to provide justification for requesting future funding.
Trees will be treated according to best management practices.
To apply, please complete the application:
For more information please contact Kristi Mansolf at kmansolf@gmail.com.
Update September 19, 2016
The Ramona West End Fire Safe Council has completed the grant application process. Any further applications will be considered when more funding becomes available.
Ramona West End Firesafe Council in the News
San Diego Union Tribune:
- Residents Equip Themselves to Help in Fighting Wildfires in the San Diego Union Tribune 7/5/2008
- Fire Prevention Efforts Receive $10 Million in the San Diego Union Tribune 4/26/2008
- Evacuees clog smoke-filled Ramona roads in the San Diego Union Tribune 10/22/2007
The Ramona Home Journal:
- Youth Learn Hands-Only CPR 4/7/2016
- Fire Safe Facilitates Program for Ramona High Students Teaching CPR 6/18/2015
- Fire Safe Council to Host Workshop to Safeguard Homes in the Ramona Home Journal 8/1/2013
- Preaching, Teaching & Demonstrating Fire Readiness in the Ramona Home Journal 11/1/2012
The Ramona Sentinel:
- Wildfire Preparedness Community Meeting slated for Tuesday in the Ramona Sentinel 7/11/2013
- Fire Department open house draws crowds in the Ramona Sentinel 10/20/2012
- Experts to share how to make homes more fire resistant in the Ramona Sentinel 8/7/2012
- Fire Council Grant Helps Clear Brush in the Ramona Sentinel 2/10/2012
- Agencies Work on Three Ongoing Fire Prevention Projects in the Ramona Sentinel 2/3/2012
- Fire Safe Council Plans Free Chipping Day July 9th in the Ramona Sentinel 6/29/2011
- Bug Bores into Oaks in the Ramona Sentinel 6/24/2010
- Inmates Work on Fire Break in the Ramona Sentinel 10/1/2009
- West End Fire Safe Project Clears Brush in the Ramona Sentinel 9/30/2009
- Volunteers Fan out, Exceed Before the Threat Goal in the Ramona Sentinel 8/6/2009
- More Volunteers Needed for Door-to-door Effort in the Ramona Sentinel 7/30/2009
Ramona West End Firesafe Council on Blogs:
- Tips for Wildfire Animal Evacuation in Ramona on Ramona Patch 11/12/2013
- Firewise’s Faith Berry to teach ‘Making your home more fire resistant on Wildfire Safety Blog 8/16/2012
- Evacuation from Wildfires was Topic of Agency Workshop in Ramona on Ramona Patch 10/20/2011
- Ramona ‘Go To’ Guide is Available to Read Before Disasters on Ramona Patch 5/17/2011
- Ramona Fire Seeks “Before the Threat” Volunteers on Ready San Diego Blog 07/22/2009
Ramona West End Fire Safe Council 