By John Crandall
The Orange County Register
IRVINE — A program being introduced today will warn Orange County residents when fire danger is highest.
Representatives from OC Parks and the Orange County Fire Authority and county Supervisor Pat Bates will introduce OC Fire Watch — a program that will alert residents of elevated fire dangers in wilderness parks and local communities.
The program announcement is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the fire authority’s headquarters, 1 Fire Authority Road in Irvine.
Under the program, during red-flag conditions, county parks, some county facilities, fire authority stations and participating city halls will raise red “fire alert” flags. Wildfires are more likely to occur and spread during red-flag conditions, when strong winds are accompanied by low humidity and high temperatures.
The program also will incorporate fire-watch volunteers.
“The memories of last year’s Freeway Complex fire and the Santiago fire two years ago still linger as painful reminders of the devastation wildfires can inflict on our wilderness areas and nearby residential communities,” Bates said in a statement.
OC Parks will coordinate the deployment of fire-watch volunteers in and around wilderness areas.
“Extra vigilance is needed to protect it (OC Parks areas) during red-flag conditions,” said Mark Denny, OC Parks director. “Time is of the essence to prevent large-scale damage to these wilderness areas and nearby homes.”
The fire authority will train volunteers in communication procedures and map reading, as well as how to recognize and report potentially dangerous situations.
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