Fires in Southern California led some El Dorado County residents to call for more information about the safety of their own communities and how they should respond in case of a wildfire.
Michael Frenn, a Placerville Planning Commission member, urged the City Council on Oct. 23 to request that the fire marshal conduct a fire hazard assessment of the city to determine the risk of a firestorm, and then to take corrective action. The Southern California fires, as well as the Angora fire in South Lake Tahoe, "indicate how quickly these things can escalate in an urban area," Frenn said.
El Dorado Hills resident Nina Edmondson, during a community forum on public safety Oct. 24, said public officials need to help residents prepare for such disasters.
Sheriff Jeff Neves said the county's Office of Emergency Services has an emergency operations plan that is posted on the Sheriff's Department's Web site. But he said the department could be more aggressive in publicizing emergency measures. Although the department could use phone calls to alert residents to fire or other threats, Neves said such systems are effective only if phone lines are working and someone is able to answer the phone. County Supervisor Rusty Dupray, a captain with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, said residents need to be prepared to fend for themselves in an emergency.
"If you think it's dangerous, take your own action and get out of Dodge," he said. "Don't wait for government to tell you what to do."
– Cathy Locke
