Meet Your Mira Mesa Fire Safe Council
Rattlesnake Canyon Mira Mesa
Mira Mesa Fire Safe Council is one of over 50 Community Councils attached to the San Diego County Fire Safe Council. Working together we provide the vital interface between organizations such as San Diego Fire & Rescue, CAL FIRE and commercial interests to involve our neighbors in preparing Mira Mesa for wildfire by removing or otherwise mitigating fire hazards that exist with in our community.
Hazards include combustibles in the five feet surrounding homes known as Zone Zero, connecting fuels such as combustible fences and hedges, unscreened or improperly screened attic vents and combustible outbuildings such as sheds and pergolas. Breaking the fire paths created by these hazards creates the defensible space our firefighters need to control and suppress wildfire at the Wildfire Urban Interface (WUI).
Mira Mesa is defined in part by Coastal Chaparal canyons; four larger canyons and several smaller ones that transect the community. Most have been left as natural habitat, and they give Mira Mesa a rural feel, while also presenting an issue. Experts define the habitat/built environment interface as a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). Similar communities within recent memory have been impacted by wildfire that burned from the habitat into the community. Some of these fires have been devastating.
Can it happen here?
The short answer is yes with some provisions. The most troublesome scenario is a combination of winds over 20mph, relative humidity under 30%, and temperatures over 85 degrees F after a period of no rain which dries out the native brush. In general California is seeing an increasing number of “whiplash” cycles where very wet weather causes a substantial increase in native foliage, followed by a long dry period that dries the brush out. Even when these three thresholds are met, wildfire is not guaranteed. Nearly 90% of all wildfires in California are started by humans.
But we’ve got a great Fire Department
Yes, San Diego Fire & Rescue is among the best, and backed by the County, assets from other communities and CAL Fire. There are two factors that confront the Mira Mesa community; the first is proximity of ignition. 93% of the most destructive fires and 100% of the deadliest fires from 2012-2022 in California were ignited within 1 kilometer of a WUI area. There may not be much time for crews to get here. The second is embers, which have been known to travel for miles in front of the fire face. Up to 90% of home ignitions in a Wildfire incident are caused by embers.
Can we fight it ourselves?
Urban fire is extremely dangerous, especially in a high ember-ignition situation. Professionals with proper training and equipment are best for that work.
So what CAN we do?
We can help our firefighters by making some changes around our homes to reduce the possibility of ember ignition. When we make exterior improvements, we can ensure that we incorporate non-combustible materials. This is how we buy time for our firefighters and give them the opportunity to concentrate on the fire face.
This takes a community. To really stop ember cast, we need everyone to participate, and that will be our primary goal.
The primary focus of this website will be Zone 0 through 2026 and much of 2027. We will touch on home hardening from time to time and bring increasing amounts of home hardening in through 2027.
Our site is still under construction. Please check back soon
If you have an immediate question contact us at info@mmfiresafe.org