May is a busy month for a lot of folks.
High school graduations, summer camp and vacation plans. It is also time to prepare for wildfires. Wildfire season is year-round, so preparation should be taken very seriously.
One way to learn how to do that is to attend the Wildfire Preparedness Workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 29 at the Brea Community Center.
Brea Fire Marshal Nicole Pesqueria said the workshop is open to all Brea residents, and there will be speakers from the fire, police and public works departments.
“We have a special guest speaker,” said Pesqueria, “Retired Fire Captain/Fire Marshal Rich Snyder, who will be talking about how his home survived the fire in Altadena.”
That should be very interesting to learn how his Altadena home survived while others, like my friend Julie’s, burned to the ground.
Persqueria also noted that the workshop will include vendors with information on home-hardening products. Home hardening is using fire-resistant building materials and vegetation management, such as planting succulents, to reduce fire risks.
Attendees will also learn about emergency preparedness and evacuation planning, including where to go if you must evacuate. This is all good information for preparedness for earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Attendees will also learn about Class A roofs, and if your home has one. Important to know. I remember years ago when my family moved to Brea our house had a cedar shake roof, like all the other houses in our neighborhood. It was replaced with concrete tile quite a while ago. And cedar shake roofs are banned in California. Good news.
If you don’t know if your home is in the wildfire zone, there will be a large map at the workshop and you can see if it is. Some people think if they don’t live in the canyon then they must be safe. Not true. Check the map.
Be sure to put the Wildness Preparedness Workshop on your calendar. No RSVPs needed, but come early. Persqueria is expecting around 200 to 250 attendees.
“The more the merrier of course,” she said. “Just not over capacity because the fire marshal frowns upon that.”
I bet she does.
After you get informed about wildfire safety, make plans to come to Brea Bonanza Days Country Music Festival in Brea Downtown, May 16 to 18. Great country music, line dancing lessons and lots of boot-kickin’ fun.
Free general admission, plus VIP seating. More info at BreaDowntown.com.
And for more music, dancing and family fun, it’s the annual Summerfest at St. Angela Merici School, May 30 to June 1. There will be lots of games, carnival-type rides, food booths, awesome entertainment and free admission.
Net proceeds from the sales of food, drinks and ride and game tickets benefit the school at 585 S. Walnut St.
And it is not too early to make plans for Brea’s July 4 Country Fair at City Hall Park by the Brea Museum. Soroptimist of Brea/La Habra, of which I am a member, is hosting, for the second year, the Most Patriotic Baby Contest.
There will be three categories: Birth to 6 months, 7 to 12 months and 13 to 18 months. Last year, a couple of us had to walk around the park inviting people to enter their babies in the contest. So plan to enter your little one in their cutest red, white and blue outfit.
I know July 4 is several weeks away, but we want lots of entries this year and for babies’ parents and grandparents to make plans to get the little ones in the contest and to enjoy the fair’s events that day. Put it in your calendar now.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at daxoncomm@gmail.com.