Your moniker says it all. Those of us who have lived in So.Cal our whole lives know that the “OMG!!! all of So. Cal is on fire” story is blared across the media every few years. The Santa Ana winds have been blowing here for thousands of years. Last years fires are not a new phenomena. The “latest fire risk maps” that include the area of 4S where made when the whole of 4S was grazing grassland for cows. Your “roundly criticized by many in fire protection” is also an asinine and ignorant comment. The “fire proctection” authority for 4S Ranch, namely the Rancho Santa Fe Fire District specifically advises people living in 4S Ranch to NOT evacuate but stay put because the area and homes are at such a very low danger of burning in a fire that the risk of evacuating exceeds the risk of staying. The specifically do NOT make the same recommendation for other communities in the district that are not built according the strict codes that 4S Ranch was built with. Don’t come in here as “NewtoSanDiego” and start spouting of as an expert on fire danger. The Experts that know say 1) 4S Ranch is about as safe as you can possibly be and 2) in the event of an approaching wild fire stay calm and stay in your home and 3) don’t evacuate. Don’t take my word for it you can read it here from the RSF Fire Chief.
“Typically, when a wildfire threatens homes, evacuations are ordered. Evacuations will shelter residents away from danger during a catastrophic event. During evacuations hough, panic and chaos ensue, causing traffic collisions, blocked roadways, injuries and deaths. In fact, most
wildfire-related deaths occur during evacution efforts.
Your community, however, is designed to shelter you inside your home, far away from these congested evacuation routes.
By residing in one of the five communities listed below, your home is considered shelter-inplace. This means you will not need to evacuate during a wildfire. Homes in these masterplanned communities are designed and constructed to withstand wildfire, so residents are safe to shelter inside.”
FYI . . . . as someone in law enforcement I understand the lemming like herd mentality of most in a state of percieved danger . . . they panic and do the wrong thing. People in 4S that evacuated did the wrong thing. By evacuating they put themselves at greater danger not to mention unnecessary hassle. I lived in 4S, didn’t evacuate, and was fine because I am informed.
