Spring Forward This Weekend
This weekend, as you "spring forward," remember to change the batteries in your life safety devices, including your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms! You could save a life!
Firefighters to Participate in Annual Boot Drive
Rancho Santa Fe firefighters will be taking to the streets and intersections again this year to help raise money for burn survivors. The annual Burn Institute Boot Drive, taking place on Thursday, March 13, 2014, raises money to help fund burn prevention programs and survivor support services, including Camp Beyond the Scars for children who have survived burns. Firefighters will be standing at major intersections throughout the district during the morning and afternoon commute, collecting monetary donations of any amount in empty fire boots.
“Due to the nature of this once-a-year endeavor, there may be some minor traffic delays at a few intersections in our district. We want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we strive to raise money for this great cause.”
- Fire Chief Tony Michel
Community Emergency Response Training
Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)
promotes a partnering effort between emergency services
and the people in the communities they serve.The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods,
community organizations, or workplaces in basic disaster response
skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency
response capability for their area.
CERT is now accepting applications for our Spring Academy. Learn more about the academy and how you can become a member of CERT here.
California Fire Code
PUBLIC NOTICE: The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District has adopted the 2013 California Fire Code with amendments which can be found in Ordinance 2014-01. The new ordinance is effective as of January 13, 2014 and can be viewed here. Additional information regarding our ordinances can be found on the Ordinances and Standards page.
State Begins Billing SRA Fee for Second Time
In early 2011, The California Legislature adopted legislation that required the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (BOF) to develop and implement a program to assess a fire prevention fee on homeowners within State Responsibility Areas (SRA). In November 2011 the BOF voted to adopt regulations to implement the fee mandated by the Legislature.The Board of Equalization is now sending out the notices for this year’s billing cycle to the State. The mandatory annual fee is $150 per habitable structure, with a $35 credit per habitable structure given to those who live on SRA lands but pay for fire protection from a second agency, such as the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District (RSFFPD). The SRA bill, which will be separate from your property tax bill and is scheduled to be mailed between September 25 and October 4, will be used for fire prevention services and programs provided by the state, not local agencies.
CAL FIRE has developed a web site with information about the SRA fee. The site includes a number of helpful links, as well as the phone number to the SRA Fee Implementation Center. The web site can be accessed at www.firepreventionfee.org. You can also read RSFFPD's press release regarding the fee for more information.
Plant and Landscape Guide
Wildfire: Are You Prepared?
Wildfires are a constant threat for those of us living in Southern California, especially within wildland-urban interface areas like Rancho Santa Fe and its surrounding communities. The Fire Protection District employs a hazard abatement inspector who surveys properties for fire hazards and mails violation notices to property owners not in compliance with District Ordinance 2004-02 and 2011-01.
Residents within the RSFFPD service area should begin to receive a letter reminding them of the local hazard abatement requirements. Learn more about how you can safeguard not only your home, but your entire community, with the following resources:
Life Safety System Maintenance Community Presentation
Smoke alarms and residential fire sprinklers are important tools in keeping families safe during a house fire. The Fire District now has a webpage and printed brochure to help community members understand their home fire protection system, including home fire sprinklers, and the proper way to maintain it. The website can be found at http://www.rsf-fire.org/sprinklers/index.html while printed brochures are located at each of our fire stations and administration office.
Hands-Only CPR
When someone suffers cardiac arrest, every second counts. The longer a patient goes without Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the less likely their chance of survival. Unfortunately, that is what happens all too often. According to the American Heart Association, 70% of Americans feel helpless during emergency situations and hesitate to act.
To help ease fears and increase the chances of patients getting the assistance they need, the AHA has developed Hands-Only CPR. Hands-Only CPR involves two simple steps: 1. Call 9-1-1 and 2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Learn more on our Hands-Only CPR page. You can also download the Hands-Only CPR app from both Google and iTunes.
Administrative Offices
Just a reminder that our Administrative Offices, which were once housed at Station 1, are now located in the Plaza at the entrance to the community of Cielo, across Calle Ambiente from Station 4. The new location is more centrally located to all areas of the district and will allow us to better meet the needs of our customers. Services offered included plan submissions, plan checks, car seat installations, accounts payable, and other administrative or prevention matters.
