What’s at Stake?

We are pleased to partner with the Olivenhain Town Council for our events, which are held at the historic Olivenhain Meeting Hall.

Olivenhain, one of five communities comprising the city of Encinitas, is beloved for its rich history, rural ambiance, and natural beauty. Yet that beauty comes with a price. According to CAL FIRE, most of Olivenhain lies in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, based on fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), predicted flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical fire weather for the area.

Living in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, we face a much greater than average chance of experiencing a wildfire and the threats to life and property that accompany it.

Factor in our limited evacuation options and the heavy cut-through commuter traffic we contend with most rush hours, and we face significant challenges to our safety as residents, property owners, and a community.

1996 Harmony Grove Fire. Photo by Richard Bumann

What Can You Do?

Backyard with desert landscaping featuring various succulents and drought-tolerant plants, with a house and a paved walkway, under a clear blue sky.

Clear Defensible Space

Clearing and maintaining defensible space around a house, while hardening the structure against wind-driven embers, flames, and heat, increases the odds that it will survive a wildfire. There should be nothing combustible within five feet of a home, and fuels should be thinned out to 100 feet or the property line, whichever is closer. Keep the roof and gutters free of debris.

A dirt pull-off area with signs indicating a wildfire evacuation route and restrictions on stopping and fire lanes, surrounded by trees and bushes.

Have an Evacuation Plan

Identify potential evacuation routes, and plan to leave early. Know your evacuation destination. Make sure your car always has sufficient fuel or, in the case of an EV, is fully charged and ready to go. Establish a family meeting place outside the area. Plan for evacuation assistance, if necessary. If an evacuation order is issued, follow the directions of first responders.

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Red emergency backpack with a white cross and yellow text that says "Emergency IGo Bag" hanging on a wall hook.

Pack a “Go Bag”

Wildfires often happen unexpectedly and move extremely fast, and you might not have time to pack. For everyone in your household, keep a Go Bag so you’re ready to leave in a hurry. Among other things, include daily essentials (cash, medications, glasses or contact lenses, hygiene products), appropriate seasonal clothing, pet supplies and medications, first aid kit, contacts list, N95-type masks, and copies of important documents. Pack your car with emergency water and food, valuables, pictures, computers, mobile devices, chargers, etc.

Get Involved

People standing behind a table at an outdoor event promoting California fire safety. The table has informational materials and a sign that reads 'Greetings from California.' There is a white canopy tent overhead with the website olivenhainfsc.org and fire safety logos. One person is holding a white dog, and several other attendees are in the background.

EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

FUNDRAISING 

NEIGHBORHOOD AMBASSADORS

 SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

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Visit our booth at the Cardiff Farmers Market 

Our Newsletter

Your source for the latest news and detailed information

Featured
The Firebreak Newsletter - April 2026

From the President

For two days in late February, three OFSC board members attended all-day classes offered by CAL-FIRE in San Diego to learn how to conduct home assessments for wildfire mitigation. Although most of us had attended other trainings on the subject, we all agreed that this course was outstanding. It had a distinctly California focus and addressed in detail the basics of home hardening and defensible space and how to communicate the reasoning behind recommendations to neighbors. At the end, we all received certificates of completion and will soon be discussing ways we can share our knowledge with others in the community to help them make their homes more fire-safe. As part of that effort, we’re planning a demonstration for our Neighborhood Ambassadors, probably in June or July, and will be looking for a home we can feature. So if you’d like to volunteer your home, contact me. If you’re interested in becoming a Neighborhood Ambassador, contact Lou Obertreis.

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The Firebreak Newsletter - December 2025

From the President

It’s been several months since our last newsletter, but that doesn’t mean we’ve been twiddling our thumbs. We’ve just been heading in some different directions. 

In September we took part in the Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s open house and emergency preparedness event, where we met many new people and saw some familiar faces as well, engaging them in conversations about wildfire preparedness. Then, in October we participated in the Encinitas Fire Department’s open house, marking National Fire Prevention Month. In November we were back at the Cardiff farmers market, but we’re taking a break for a few months and will be back there in February 2026. 

We were thrilled (and hugely surprised) to be named the Olivenhain Municipal Water District's Nonprofit of the Year. And four of our board members attended the OMWD meeting in November where we received the award. (See below.)

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The Firebreak Newsletter - July 2025

From the President

It’s been a while since we’ve produced a newsletter—we needed some time to recover after our Community Barbecue and Preparedness Fair back in May! But we’re back now, and the overwhelming feeling we have is gratitude.

Gratitude to everyone who made the fair such a success (see following article for specifics). Gratitude to the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation, for a generous SAFE grant for 2025-26, which will enable us to update and distribute our evacuation brochure. And most especially, gratitude to the various fire agencies that successfully fought the Claro fire, which started on June 12, way too close for comfort to Olivenhain. In fact, a number of residents were able to see it from their homes (see photos by Ron Bernstein below). Multiple agencies, including the Encinitas Fire Department, responded to the fire. Per CAL-FIRE, the cause is still under investigation.

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OLIVENHAIN FIRE HISTORY

Think it won’t happen here? It already has. Olivenhain has had close encounters with wildfire dating back to its earliest days. Learning about past fires puts our current vulnerabilities in context and underscores the importance of being prepared before the next one hits. 

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A wildfire burns through a dry hillside with smoke rising, neighboring houses with tiled roofs, a fence, and trees in a suburban area.

Aftermath of Harmony Grove Fire, 1996. Photo by Anni Mallison.