Fire watch patrol needs help

With an especially dangerous fire season expected this year due to

increased vegetation from heavy rains, community members are being

asked to be proactive in preventing wildfires.

The Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council is again coordinating a Red

Flag Patrol program to enhance the early warning capabilities of

local fire authorities. This program augments the steps taken by

professional firefighters.

Volunteers are called into action when a Red Flag Alert has been

issued, indicating that fire danger is extremely high. The high-risk

condition is usually brought about by Santa Ana winds that occur

during the fall and early winter.

The frequency of the patrols are determined by the weather. In the

last fire season, no patrols were necessary. But during the previous

season the patrols were activated six times between October and

January.

Volunteers are asked to participate in a two-hour driving patrol

with a partner looking for smoke, or any suspicious behavior or

activity that could lead to a fire. The patrol route includes the

best vantage points along the wild land interface and out onto Laguna

Canyon Road.

Nondrivers are welcome, as only one partner needs to be a licensed

driver. Several parent-child teams participate in the program.

Volunteers may train with a partner or be assigned a partner when a

patrol is needed.

All volunteers are required to attend a two-hour training session

conducted by battalion chiefs of the Laguna Beach Fire Department or

the Orange County Fire Authority. Trained volunteers are issued a

“ready bag” with items needed for the patrol, including

identification and maps.

Training sessions are 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, and 8:30-10:30

a.m. Saturday, June 4, at Laguna Beach City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.

(room to be announced).

Those interested may visit the Fire Safe Council’s table at the

Fire Department open house on May 14. To pick up an application call

Pat Cooper at (949) 494-6220, or Wade Stearns at (949) 376-9446, or

just show up at the training.

Water District Marks 80th anniversary

The Laguna Beach County Water District is celebrating its 80th

anniversary, and is planning festivities in conjunction with the

Laguna Beach Police and Fire Department open houses, to be held from

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at district headquarters, 306

Third St.

Visitors can take a tour of the district’s water-wise and

fire-safe demonstration garden, get materials on water-wise and

fire-safe landscaping, pick up seed packets of native California

wildflowers, and view this year’s entries to the Elementary School

Water Awareness poster contest.

Children will be able to make their own water cycle bracelet and

enjoy an afternoon of festivities.

The poster contest drew 140 entries from Laguna Beach Unified

students in grades 1-5 with the theme “Be Water Smart! Laguna Beach

Digs Water-Wise Gardens.”

The water district provides water to 25,000 people within an

8.5-square-mile area of Laguna Beach. Information: (949) 494-1041.

Party director speaks at meeting

Orange County Republican Party political director Will Hutson will

speak at the Laguna Beach chapter’s meeting May 18 at Aliso Creek

Inn. Free, or $5 for nonmembers. Reception is 7-7:30 p.m. No-host

bar. Info: (949) 494-0607.

Hotels to get hearing on BID extension

The City Council has scheduled a May 17 hearing on the extension

of the Business Improvement District. The district is a voluntary

assessment of all hotels and motels, used to fund art programs and

groups that bring tourists to town.