City officials urged San Diegans Tuesday to prepare their homes and families for the possibility of wildfires as dry conditions and frequent heat waves continue to raise the risks of potentially disastrous blazes.
In conjunction with National Preparedness Month, which began Sept. 1, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is urging property owners to create "defensible zones" free of readily flammable vegetation and debris around their homes, assemble emergency-supply kits and take other common-sense precautionary steps.
"Now is the time to think about the safety of your family, your home and your pets," Assistant Fire Chief Brian Fennessy said. "Getting your family ready, getting set for emergencies and knowing when to go should fire erupt is critically important during our dry season."
The city has laid out the safety strategies and tips in a guide titled "Ready, Set, Go!" A free downloadable version is available online at sandiego.gov/fire/pdf/rsgsandiego.pdf.
