DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE
Wildland fire season has begun in New Mexico and the Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) is reminding residents of the increased risk of wildland fires. Currently, the fire danger in Los Alamos is “high.” To improve public safety and mitigate potential fire hazards, the LAFD is urging all residents to read and implement the recommendations in the Ready, Set, Go! Wildland Fire Action Guide, a comprehensive resource designed to prepare residents for the possibility of a wildland fire.
The Ready, Set, Go! program embodies a three-step approach to maximizing the safety of people and property.
- Ready— Fireproof properties and homes. Remove weeds and dried grass to create defensible areas. Reinforce buildings by using non-combustible materials for balconies and patios. Remove pine needles and dried leaves from roofs and gutters. Assemble an emergency kit, develop a family evacuation plan and sign up for alerts through the county’s CodeRED emergency notification system. Text LOSALAMOS to 99411 or visit lacnm.com/Alerts.
- Sentence— Be prepared. Stay up to date with fire and hazard alerts from the LAFD and Los Alamos County Emergency Management Office notifications on traditional and social media. Follow NMFireinfo.com and listen to Radio 1610AM.
- Go—Should LAFD and emergency management personnel determine evacuations are necessary, instructions will be provided through CodeRED, traditional and social media channels. Take your Go Kit and evacuate to a low-risk area such as a relative’s home, evacuation shelter or hotel.
The Ready, Set, Go! Wildland Fire Action Guide, with easy-to-follow lists and reminders, is available online at https://lacnm.com/Ready-Set-Go. Print copies are available at Mesa Public or White Rock library branches, the Customer Care Center in the Municipal Building, or the LAFD Administrative Office.
Kelly Sterna, chief of the LAFD’s Wildland Division, emphasized that there is an increased risk of wildfires in a community surrounded by natural landscapes. “Everyone has a responsibility to always be in the ‘Ready’ phase of the Ready, Set, Go! program. We should not wait until there is a threat of wildfire to begin implementing ‘Ready’ measures.” Look for a column from Sterna on Thursday, June 20, where he delves deeper into the meaning of “Ready.”
