Red Flag Warning for Mountain Areas

Source: Office of Emergency Management

The NWS has issued a Red Flag Warning for the mountain areas of SB County for 10/21/17 0300 hrs till 10/22/17 1000 hrs for gusty N to NE winds (up to 55 mph) and low relative humidity. Use extreme caution outdoors when using potential fire ignition sources. CA Zone 252.

CRITICAL WEATHER EVENT PREDICTED

The National Weather Service has issued a critical weather event for the Santa Barbara south coast, including Montecito from Saturday through Tuesday evening. The current wind will continue and increase through Tuesday. The highest temperatures are anticipated Monday, October 23, and Tuesday, October 24. Temperatures will be near or in excess of 100 degrees, with lows in the 70’s to low 80’s. An elevated sense of awareness is imperative during extreme weather situations.

Montecito residents should take this time to evaluate their preparedness levels. Please refer to the Ready! Set! Go! Program available on our website (www.montecitofire.com, under the Community Outreach tab in the Preparedness section), and at all Montecito Fire Stations.

Prevent heat related illness:

Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Limit strenuous activity to the early morning and late afternoon/evening hours.
Avoid excessive sun exposure – stay indoors or seek shade during peak hours.

When in high fire hazard areas:

Any open flame is prohibited.
Avoid using equipment that emits sparks, even those with spark arresters.

To report an emergency or suspicious activity, gather information necessary in order to expedite the response:

Type of incident.
Location – try to pinpoint the location to or near a specific address.
If describing a person, state an approximate age and height, and clothing worn.
If describing a vehicle, state the make, model and color. Try to get a license plate number.
Always provide a phone number in the case a dispatcher needs to obtain additional information.