From May 1-7, California celebrates Wildfire Preparedness Week. For a special episode of “Conversations with Councilmember Larry Agran,” Irvine City Councilmember Larry Agran interviewed Tony Pointer, OC Fire Watch Manager of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, to learn more about wildfire dangers in Irvine. 

During the interview, Tony Pointer underscored the importance of voluntary fire watch evacuations and emergency preparedness:  

“Be ready when an evacuation order is given, and be vigilant in keeping up to date about what the weather condition is…typically, the City of Irvine and Orange County see the greatest rates of spread on Santa Ana wind days…so if you get messaging from the National Weather Service or the news, those are [especially] the days to stay vigilant.” 

Councilmember Larry Agran shared why he thinks wildfire readiness is essential for Irvine:

“I’ve noticed that we’re pretty dry year-round…we need to be ready. Now, we’re getting into the summer and fall, when the danger is great, so [we need to know] what we can do to prepare our homes and neighborhoods to deal with wildfires.” 

Being proactive against and prepared for the threat of wildfires is crucial for Irvine residents. Public emergencies can be unpredictable. Resources such as Alert OC, managed by the County of Orange, California and the emergency disaster plan created by the Orange County Fire Authority are available for Irvine residents to prepare for any unexpected threats. 

Check out more information on how to sign up for Alert OC here.