We have entered into “Fire Season,” although today many believe Fire Season in California is all year round.
A Red Flag Day is a day when the National Weather Service (NWS) or a Fire Chief declares that the risk of fire is high due to a combination of weather conditions and when the weather conditions are such that the potential for a fast-moving brush fire is extremely high.
Over the past few years, there has been an average of 4 to 7 Red Flag days per year but in some years this number has reached up to 12.
How will you know if there is a Red Flag declaration?
The following methods were developed to notify the residents, guests, and visitors to the County of Los Angeles of a Red Flag condition:
- Residents are able to contact the 311 Operator, within the County of Los Angeles boundaries, for information regarding a Red Flag event.
- Radio and television outlets broadcast Red Flag warnings.
- Every fire station will fly a red flag during the declaration.
The following is a checklist of suggestions for you on Red Flag Days.
Inside Checklist:
- Close all skylights and doors, leaving them unlocked.
- Know how to open your garage door manually.
- Turn off Whole House and Attic Fans.
- If you can, move combustible items away from windows and doors.
- Shut all windows and open your drapes.
- Remove flammable window shades and lightweight curtains if possible. Close metal shutters.
- Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.
- Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions.
- Shut off the air conditioning.
- Seal the attic and ground vents if possible.
- Know your evacuation zones. (See link below).
Outside Checklist:
- Gather up flammable items (e.g., patio furniture, cushions, children’s toys, doormats, etc.) from the exterior of the house and bring them inside.
- If you have a combustible fence and gate attached to the house, then open the gate if you can. Obviously, please take into consideration security and a child or pet’s ability to leave the property.
- Brush clearance cannot be done on Red Flag days.
- Remove all combustible items within five feet of structures.
- Close all retractable awnings.
- If your BBQ is on wheels, move it away from structures.
- Move combustible yard furniture away from the house or store it in the garage.
- If your BBQ is on wheels, move it away from structures.
- If you have a flammable tarp or mesh patio or gazebo covering, you should install it with a quick-release bungee cord or releasable hooks, so on Red Flag days, you can remove this quickly and easily and bring it inside.
- Move all door mats away from structures.
- On Red Flag Days certain parking restrictions go into place. Check for signage marked “No Parking on Red Flag Days.”
- If you have spare gas tanks, move them away from structures.
- Move Garbage Cans away from structures, they are flammable.
- If you have ornamental potted plants close to the house, they should be on wheels and you should wheel them away from the home or structure. Be sure to still maintain at least a 10 foot space around them.
- Turn off your automatic sprinklers–they waste critical water pressure.
- Leave exterior lights on.
- Back your car into the driveway. Shut doors and roll up windows.
- Have a ladder available.
- Walk around the exterior of your house. Grab your blower, if you have one, or your outside broom and remove the small piles of leaves and pine needles that gather in corners around your house and structures. These collections of small debris show you the local wind patterns where embers will settle. So remove the small piles of kindling, and have a regular maintenance schedule to keep these areas clean of debris.
- The duration of each Red Flag lasts 24 hours, but it may be renewed once that period is over.
- The Agoura Hills CERT and numerous citizen groups assist on Red Flag Days to free up fire companies.
Important Links:
Please contact us to find out how you and your community can take advantage of the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council and our Firewise community programs.
