[Nssha] FW: Wrights/Dark Lake Fire Safe Council - New Procedures for Emergency Wildfire Alerts and Evacuation

Tue Jul 2 09:58:22 PDT 2024

https://www.nssha.org/el-dorado-county-fire-safe-council/

From: Doug K <knivetond at gmail.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 9:23 AM
To: Meredith Randall Randall <meredithrandall14 at gmail.com>; dawnjhnsn at yahoo.com; jbots42 at gmail.com; jsnewlin at gmail.com; mjcaselli at comcast.net; Robin Wham <wantogo at gmail.com>; na11en at sbcglobal.net; kslewin at sbcglobal.net; affranks58 at gmail.com; Paul Hugo <paul.hugo at gmail.com>; planch4 at sbcglobal.net; hthomasattorney at icloud.com; mgbrattland at gerlecreek.com
Subject: Wrights/Dark Lake Fire Safe Council - New Procedures for Emergency Wildfire Alerts and Evacuation

Dear NSSHA reps:
Below is an email we sent to our members about new and updated procedures that El Dorado County has implemented for wildfire notification and evacuations.  You are welcome to share any parts of it with your members.     

As noted below, the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council has just published a very good wildfire preparedness workbook.  Below is an electronic copy.  We have some extra hard copies.  If you would like some please let me know and I will be happy to mail them to you.   

Kind regards, 
Doug Kniveton 
Wrights Lake and Dark Lake Fire Safe Council 
650.773.1068

Wildfire Preparedness Workbook:
https://edcfiresafe.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/EDCFSC-Wildfire-Preparedness-Workbook-reduced-file-size.pdf

On Sun, Jun 30, 2024 at 3:24 PM Doug K <knivetond at gmail.com <mailto:knivetond at gmail.com> > wrote:

Dear Cabin Owners:

Since we are now in fire season, below are some new and updated procedures to sign up for emergency alerts and to track wildfires, evacuation orders and other emergencies.  

Please call 911 to report a fire or other emergency.  The closest fire truck is at the USFS station in Silver Fork, and the closest medical response is based in Pollock Pines.  

RAVE Emergency Alerts 
The link below contains instructions to sign up for the recently revamped RAVE Emergency Alert System from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES).  The OES sends alerts for wildfires and urgent law enforcement operations via telephone, cell phone, text message, email, and Smart911 App. You may sign up for Wrights Lake using the Kyburz zip code, 95720.  The website is   <http://ready.edso.org/> ready.edso.org. Cell service is needed to receive these alerts. 

Perimeter Map Website 
Per the OES, the Perimeter Map website, which has real time safety updates and instant public instructions, is the best real time source for every stage of a disaster. You can track the spread of a fire by seeing where evacuation orders have been issued.  The site lists all road closures year-round. It does not send out alerts, and you must click on the link for updates.    <http://perimetermap.com/> perimetermap.com. 

Watch Duty App
The Watch Duty app, which is well regarded by first responders, sends an audible alert to your phone of wildfires that occur in the area(s) you designate.  It provides updates on equipment dispatched, evacuation orders issued, and percent containment.  Cell service is needed to receive these alerts.  (https://www.watchduty.org/). 

GMRS Radios / Emergency Communications Network  
The WLDLFSC recommends that each cabin purchase a pair of GMRS radios to expand our emergency communications network.  A number of local communities have set up GMRS emergency radio networks which have saved lives. They can be used to notify cabin owners of a fire, an impending evacuation, or an urgent law enforcement issue. Our fire pump sheds contain GMRS radios.  

Below is a link to Baofeng G11s 3-watt GMRS radios, which cost $45 per pair on Amazon:  
 <https://www.amazon.com/G11S-Handheld-Rechargeable-Repeater-Earpiece/dp/B0CLNKJ1WN> https://www.amazon.com/G11S-Handheld-Rechargeable-Repeater-Earpiece/dp/B0CLNKJ1WN

These radios are sturdy and simple to use.  They have good reception around Wrights Lake, and scratchy but audible reception between Wrights and Dark Lake when someone stands on the road above the Dark Lake cabins.  

The WLDLFSC plans to hold a monthly test where members turn on their GMRS radios at 10 AM on the first Saturday of each month, using Channel 1 to communicate.  Please let us know if you would like to volunteer to be part of a communications team in an emergency. 

After purchasing these radios you will need to purchase a $35 GMRS radio license which covers your entire household for 10 years.  Below is a link to the El Dorado County Community Emergency Radio Association (CER) website which contains instructions on how to register and purchase a license:  
https://www.cerafund.org/gmrs-radio-license
GMRS radios are also handy for personal communication, e.g. staying in touch with family members on a hike.  Reception is good all the way to Twin Lakes when standing in a high spot with a good line of sight. 

Newly Published Wildfire Preparedness Workbook
The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council (EDCFSC) has just published a Wildfire Preparedness Workbook with very helpful information on emergency communication, evacuation readiness, defensible space, home hardening, etc.  We plan to deliver a hard copy to each cabin in the next week or so. An electronic version of this workbook is available on the menu of the EDCFSC website:  https://edcfiresafe.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/EDCFSC-Wildfire-Preparedness-Workbook-reduced-file-size.pdf

Thank you and please feel free to contact us with any questions.

WRIGHTS LAKE AND DARK LAKE FIRE SAFE COUNCIL 

Doug Kniveton
WL 70
knivetond at gmail.com <mailto:knivetond at gmail.com> 
650.773.1068 

John Lambert
WL 24
lam325bert at gmail.com <mailto:lam325bert at gmail.com> 
510.385.4278

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES USED BY OUR MEMBERS:

CalFire Incident Map:  https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents

CalFire Amador / El Dorado Unit Facebook Page 

https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREAEU?mibextid=LQQJ4d

El Dorado County Emergency & Information Facebook Page 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1932452230314521/permalink/4274364859456568/?mibextid=W9rl1R

Eldorado National Forest Website:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado

Wildfire Camera Links: 
BIG HILL wildfire alert webcam (6,142 feet) near the Ice House campground turnoff from Ice House Road. 
 <https://www.alertwildfire.org/region/tahoe/?camera=Axis-BigHill> https://www.alertwildfire.org/region/tahoe/?camera=Axis-BigHill

BUNKER HILL wildfire alert webcam (7,530 feet) near Gerle Meadow:

 <https://www.alertwildfire.org/region/tahoe/?camera=Axis-Bunker> https://www.alertwildfire.org/region/tahoe/?camera=Axis-Bunker
Wrights Road / US 50 Traffic Webcams: 
CALTRANS has installed two traffic webcams on US 50 AT the Wrights Road turnoff, one eastbound  and one westbound.  After clicking on the Link below you will need to scroll to these cameras.  Select Region (Sacramento/Tahoe), then Select Camera (scroll down to US 50: then select Twin Bridges: Hwy 50 at Wrights Lake 1; or select Hwy 50 at Wrights Lake 2).  
 <https://cwwp2.dot.ca.gov/vm/nomap.htm> https://cwwp2.dot.ca.gov/vm/nomap.htm
Eldorado National Forest (ENF) Radio Channels:

Main ENF Radio frequency for Fire Response – 171.525. 
Per the former OES director this is the primary ENF channel for fire response. The ENF  has the closest fire engine to Wrights Lake located at Silver Fork.   

Main Sheriff’s frequency – 159.555.  If there are multiple responders they will move to 159.690.

Main Medical Response frequency – 155.9025.  The closest medical response is based in Pollock Pines. 

Here is a link to a longer list of ENF Radio Channels:

https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/US_Forest_Service_-_Eldorado_National_Forest_(CA)

Ham Radio Channels:
The Pollock Pines Repeater frequency is 146.805. Some cabin owners use 147.250. 

WLDLFSC 2023/2024 Annual Report: 
https://edcfiresafe.org/wrights-lake-dark-lake-fire-safe-council/ 

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