Immediate danger? Call 911.
An evacuation warning signals a potential threat. Prepare to leave, and leave early if anyone needs extra time or you feel unsafe. An evacuation order means leave immediately. Follow current official routes and directions. Do not wait for a door knock or for a neighborhood message to repeat an official order. If danger is developing and you can leave safely, you do not need to wait for an order. [W1, W2]
Register phones and internet phones with AlertSanDiego, enable emergency alerts and follow the official evacuation map. Save your home and other important locations in the county-supported Genasys Protect app. Keep a battery radio and paper household plan because any connected service can fail. [H8, W3]
Inspect the roof, gutters, vents, decks and the area immediately beside the home. Remove accumulated combustible debris. Ask a qualified contractor about ember-resistant vents and other appropriate home-hardening work. Keep exits clear and remove readily ignitable items from the home’s immediate perimeter. Home hardening and defensible space reduce risk; they do not make a home fireproof. [W7]
For properties in the City of San Diego’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, Municipal Code section 512.0604(e) applies Zone 0 to existing structures beginning February 28, 2027 and allows a compliance plan. The City’s April 22, 2026 guidance phases implementation: basic maintenance in 2027, vegetation in 2028 and full compliance in 2029. This schedule does not override an individual notice or approved plan. Confirm current, site-specific requirements before major landscape or fence work. An insurer’s conditions and an HOA standard may differ. [W8, W9, W11]
Do not clear neighboring land or protected open space on your own. The City identifies additional habitat and permitting restrictions, including for work on City-owned land. Coordinate property-line and common-area responsibilities in advance. [W10]
Stage pets, necessary medical equipment, keys and bags early. Keep the driveway and road clear for emergency vehicles. If departure is imminent, abandon house-protection chores. Closing windows and doors or moving combustible patio items may help only when doing so does not consume the time needed to get out. Do not climb onto the roof or leave sprinklers running. [W1]
Send one brief status message after reaching safety. Notify your household contact of the destination and any missing person. Return only when officials permit it, even if a camera view appears reassuring. [H7, W12]
Santaluz construction and landscaping do not establish a standing instruction to stay home during a wildfire. A shelter-in-place direction applies to the location and incident identified by emergency officials. Follow it and keep listening for changes. [W4]
For a smoke episode when there is no evacuation instruction and the building remains safe, create a cleaner-air room. Close windows and doors; operate suitable air conditioning on recirculation and use a correctly sized particle air cleaner that does not generate ozone. A compatible higher-efficiency HVAC filter can help; check the system’s specifications. Keep the room cool enough to occupy. If you cannot maintain safer air and a safe temperature, relocate early to a suitable place. This room is not a fire shelter. [W6]
If smoke exposure cannot be avoided, a well-fitting NIOSH Approved N95 or P100 respirator can reduce inhaled particles. It does not remove hazardous gases or provide oxygen. A damp cloth, bandana or loose dust mask is inadequate. Anyone with a condition affecting breathing should have a clinician’s smoke plan. Avoid exposing children to smoke; adult respirators may not fit them. [W5]
Call 911 immediately. Give your address or precise location, the number of people, access needs and the hazard blocking escape. Follow dispatcher instructions. If trapped at home, CAL FIRE advises staying inside away from exterior walls and windows, with doors and windows closed but unlocked. This is a last-resort action, not an alternative to early evacuation. If fire enters the building, tell the dispatcher; do not rely on sprinklers or assume the yard is safe. [W1]
Household test: Ask, “If our garage will not open and our usual exit road is blocked, who makes the next decision and where is the paper plan?” Resolve that question before a Red Flag day.
https://www.sandiego.gov/fire/community-risk-reduction/wildfire-prevention
https://www.epa.gov/emergencies-iaq/create-clean-room-protect-indoor-air-quality-during-wildfire