CREST, CA  -- Crest Northeast has become the first community in the subregion to receive official recognition as a Firewise USA® site and the 11th such site in San Diego County by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This pilot marks a significant step forward in enhancing wildfire preparedness and resilience for residents in the area.

The Firewise USA program provides a framework to help communities reduce wildfire risks by implementing proactive mitigation efforts and fostering collaboration among residents, fire agencies, and emergency management organizations. Communities that earn the Firewise USA® designation commit to reducing wildfire hazards through education, defensible space initiatives, and proactive home-hardening measures.

"The Crest Dehesa Granite Hills Harbison Canyon Planning Group is pleased to recognize this effort, which has resulted in the first community in our subregion earning this important distinction," said Ron Nehring, Chairman of the Crest Dehesa Granite Hills Harbison Canyon Planning Group. "This achievement underscores the community's commitment to wildfire preparedness and encourages other neighborhoods to take action to protect their homes and families."

Information on becoming a Firewise USA site will be provided at the Crest Dehesa Granite Hills Harbison Canyon Planning Group's February 10 meeting, which will be held at the Crest Community Association Clubhouse at 6:30 PM.

Benefits of Becoming a Firewise USA® Site:

• Increased Wildfire Safety: Firewise USA® communities develop strategies to minimize fire risks, making them better prepared to withstand and recover from wildfires.

• Community Collaboration: The program fosters strong relationships between residents, local fire departments, and emergency services to enhance coordinated wildfire response efforts.

• Potential Insurance Benefits: Some insurance providers recognize Firewise USA® communities and may offer policy discounts for homes in designated areas.

• Access to Expert Guidance: Participating communities receive resources and best practices from wildfire mitigation experts to strengthen their resilience.

In 2024 the Crest Dehesa Granite Hills Harbison Canyon Planning Group unanimously passed a resolution supporting all communities in the subregion in their efforts to become Firewise USA® sites. This first recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the local residentswho took the initiative to research, develop and submit the necessary documentation along with support from CalFIRE, San Miguel Fire & Rescue, Alpine Fire Protection District and Sunrise Powerlink Fire Mitigation Group., 

"We encourage other communities in the subregion to follow this example and take the necessary steps to become Firewise USA® recognized," said Chairman Nehring. "Wildfire preparedness is a shared responsibility, and together, we can build a safer and more resilient region."

The Crest Dehesa Granite Hills Harbison Canyon Planning Group will meet next on Monday evening, January 13 at 6:30 PM at the Crest Community Association Clubhouse at 113 N. Park Drive, El Cajon.

Topics for discussion will include road improvement priorities, wildfire preparedness, and a presentation from I Love a Clean San Diego.

Agenda

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The next Planning Group meeting will be Monday, December 9 at Dehesa School at 6:30 PM.  This will be the annual organizational meeting at which time the committee will elect its officers for 2025.

Agenda

The next Planning Group meeting will take place at Dehesa School at 6:30 PM on Monday, November 18, 2024.

Normally the Planning Group meets on the second Monday of each month.  Due to the Veterans Day holiday we are meeting one week later than normally.

If you have an issue of concern for the Planning Group, please contact a Planning Group member. 

Wildfire is the number one threat facing our region.  The communities of Crest Dehesa Granite Hills and Harbison Canyon are at a greater risk of wildfire than 94% - 99% of communities in America.

The Planning Group has unanimously adopted seven resolutions advising the County of San Diego on steps that should be taken to reduce wildfire risk and increase evacuation capacity in the area.  You can see the resolutions below.

The site has been updated with additional information:

The new FIRE CAMERAS page provides links to the live feeds of six fire cameras which cover our subregion and the surrounding area.

The new MAPS page provides map resources including the general land use plan map for our subregion.

The RESOURCES page has been updated to include a link to Wildfirerisk.org/explore, which you can use to see the wildfire risk to your home and community, plus links to census data for each part of the subregion.

The new CODE ENFORCEMENT page provides information on how to file a complaint or make a an appointment with county Code Enforcement.

The new ROADS page provides information on how to submit a request to the county for road service, such as repairing potholes or drainage problems.

- Ron Nehring

This website is being offered as an additional resource for information on the work of the Crest Dehesa Harbison Canyon Granite Hills Community Planning Group.

In order to engage the largest possible number of residents, meeting agendas and other notices will be distributed using Constant Contact, an email distribution service.  Since Constant Contact does not allow the sending of attachments, such as meeting agendas, this site provides a location where meeting agendas and other information can be published and linked to, in addition to the County of San Diego's official site.

This site can also host news and articles about developments at the Planning Group as we go forward into 2025.

Looking forward,
Ron Nehring
Crest member, Crest Dehesa Harbison Canyon Granite Hills Planning Group

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