Last month marked the one-year anniversary of the Freeway Complex Fire, the County’s most devastating fire on record which consumed over 30,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings.

The memories of that 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.

On November 12, I was pleased to have representatives from OC Parks and OC Fire Authority (OCFA) join me in a press conference announcing the launch of County’s new OC Fire Watch program.

It was during the planning of this year’s South County Disaster Preparedness Expo that the need for OC Fire Watch became very clear, as my office was engaged in discussions with several existing Fire Watch groups throughout the County - groups such as the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, South County Land Stewards, Greater Laguna Fire Safety Council, and the Inter-Canyon League.

These citizen Fire Watch groups work to deter arson and report behaviors that could lead to wildfire in the specific wilderness areas they patrol during periods of elevated fire danger, also known as Red Flag conditions, which occur when strong winds are accompanied by low humidity levels and high temperatures.

Through our OC Parks department, the County manages nearly 40,000 acres of parkland and open space.

Additionally, the County manages an Adopt-a-Park program, consisting of approximately 4,000 volunteers who perform a variety of activities that benefit our County’s parks.

Yet, until now, there was no volunteer Fire Watch program for these OC Parks volunteers and the community to become involved in.

Going forward, OC Fire Watch volunteers will be deployed to monitor the wildlands within and around our County parks during Red Flag conditions.

At such times, all Orange County wilderness and regional parks as well as OCFA fire stations will also raise Red Flags displaying the words "Fire Alert" to warn residents of the increased risk of wildfire.

I am inviting all Orange County cities and communities to participate in the OC Fire Watch program by joining the County in raising the red Fire Alert flags at their respective City Halls or designated locations during Red Flag conditions.

In the future, we expect to also extend invitations to schools, businesses and land owners along the urban/wildland interface to participate in the Red Flag program and to help disseminate the OC Fire Watch information and materials developed by OCFA.

Additionally, my office is in discussions with The Toll Roads regarding how it could participate in the OC Fire Watch program by displaying matching Fire Alert signage along the toll roads during Red Flag conditions to inform motorists of increased fire dangers, especially the risk of fire ignition caused by the catalytic converters of vehicles pulling off the roadside.

I will also soon be hosting an OC Fire Watch Community Action Forum and inviting all the local Fire Watch groups and other interested parties throughout Orange County to participate in order to help establish a cohesive network Fire Watch groups that can share information and resources to further protect our communities and wilderness areas from the threat of wildfire.

I would like to thank OC Parks and OCFA and their respective staffs for their outstanding efforts in this important countywide effort. I would also like to encourage Ladera Ranch residents to get involved! More information about the OC Fire Watch program and volunteer opportunities is available at www.ReadyOC.org.