Mission Hills Fire Safe Council
The Mission Hills Fire Safe Council (MHFSC) is a community-led initiative dedicated to protecting the Mission Hills area from the growing threat of wildfires.
Established in 2025, the MHFSC is recognized by the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County.
Our purpose is to:
- Increase fire awareness and preparedness through education and engagement
- Collaborate with local fire agencies and other public agencies involved in fire risk management
- Build a more resilient and fire-adapted community
Together, we can reduce the risk of wildfire damage and strengthen the safety of Mission Hills.
Understanding Local Fire Hazards
Mission Hills’ proximity to canyons, hillsides, and dry brush puts us at increased risk for wildfire. Embers are burning pieces of airborne material that can be carried more than a mile by the wind. Research has found that embers and small flames are the main ways homes ignite in wildfires.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal has released the updated 2025 Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map. It classifies areas by their likelihood of experiencing a specific hazard. Many factors were included in these fire hazard severity zones, such as fire history, vegetation, flame length, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, terrain, and weather.
Mission Hills is almost entirely in a Very High Fire Hazard Zone. Being prepared in the event of a fire is of utmost importance for our community.
Ready Set Go! Prepare, Alert, Evacuate
Be prepared, alert and evacuate in the event of a fire. The following San Diego Fire-Rescue Wildland Fire Action Guide and the CAL Fire Wildfire Action Plan utilizes the Ready Set Go model. These guides provide tips and tools you need to prepare for wildfire threats, gain situational awareness when a fire starts, and act early as directed by local officials.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department – Personal Wildland Fire Action Guide
Download: English | Spanish (Español)
CAL FIRE – Wildfire Action Plan
Download: English | Spanish (Español)
1. Ready
Prepare long before the threat of a wildfire, so your home is ready in case of a fire. Create defensible space by clearing brush away from your home. Trim trees and bushes allowing ample safe between your home and landscape vegetation. Use fire-resistant landscaping and harden your home with fire-safe construction measures.
2. Set
Pack your emergency items and Go Kit. These guides includes a checklist of emergency supplies needed. Assemble emergency supplies and belongings in a safe place.
Stay aware of the latest news and information on the fire from local media, your local fire department and public safety.
- Genasys Protect – Download Genasys Protect mobile app.
Genasys Protect is the recommended mobile app by the San Diego Fire Department. It makes it simple to find your evacuation zone and easily check its status to help keep you informed and safe. Emergency responders update the status of evacuation zones and will provide notifications to clearly communicate who is impacted by an emergency and what actions should be taken.
- Alert San Diego – Register for Alerts
Register for Emergency Alerts. The emergency notification system can make phone calls and emails to people and businesses in San Diego County when there’s an emergency or disaster happening or about to happen. It’s used by emergency workers to tell people what’s going on and what they should do (like leave their homes, stay inside, or watch out for a gas leak or a missing person). It can also send alerts to your cell phone, internet phone (VoIP), and email, but only if you register. You don’t have to sign up if you have a regular landline phone; they already have those numbers in their system.
3. Go
When so recommended, evacuate early and safely with your Go Kit. Plan escape routes and make sure all those residing within the home know the plan of action. Doing so will not only support your safety, but will allow firefighters to best maneuver resources to combat the fire.
- Evacuation Routes
In an emergency, evacuation routes will be dynamic, depending on the nature and location of the incident. Please stay informed on what evacuation routes are recommended in the event of an emergency by using official emergency resources, such as County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services Emergency Map, Genasys Protect, Alert San Diego, 211 San Diego, and following official social media channels for San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the County of San Diego.
Since official evacuation routes are determined at the time of an emergency, your personal preparedness plan should include multiple potential escape routes in and out of the neighborhood.
Insurance Discounts for Fire Risk Mitigation Measures
California’s new “Safer from Wildfires” framework aims to reduce wildfire risk by creating protection for homes, immediate surroundings, and the community. The California Department of Insurance recently required California insurance providers to provide discounts on insurance policies to incentivize fire risk mitigation.
The following are the types of actions that can be taken to potentially qualify for discounts on your home insurance policy.
- Class-A fire rated roof– Most roofs qualify including asphalt shingles, concrete, brick, or masonry tiles, and metal shingles or sheets. Wood shake shingles are not Class A fire-resistant rated. The Office of the State Fire Marshal maintains a list of tested and approved materials.
- 5 foot ember resistant zone, including fencing– Removing greenery and replacing wood chips with stone or decomposed granite 5 feet around your home prevents fire from getting a foot in the door. Replacing wood fencing connecting to your home with metal is critical because it can act like a candle wick leading fire straight to your home.
- Ember- and fire-resistant vents– Installing 1/16 to 1/8 inch noncombustible, corrosion-resistant metal mesh screens over exterior vents can keep wind-blown embers out of your house.
- Non-combustible 6 inches at the bottom of exterior walls– Having a minimum of 6 vertical inches measured from the ground up and from any attached horizontal surface like a deck can stop embers from accumulating and igniting your walls. Noncombustible materials include brick, stone, fiber-cement siding or concrete.
- Enclosed eaves– Installing soffits under your eaves can prevent heat and embers from getting trapped and igniting. When enclosing eaves, non-combustible or ignition resistant materials are recommended.
- Upgraded windows– Multi-paned windows are more resistant to breaking during a wildfire, which helps keep flames from entering. Multi-paned glass or added shutters all qualify.
- Cleared vegetation, weeds and debris from under decks– Noncombustible materials like concrete, gravel, or bare soil are permitted.
- Removal of combustible sheds and other outbuildings to at least a distance of 30 feet– These include sheds, gazebos, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), open covered structures with a solid roof, dog houses and playhouses.
- Defensible space compliance– following state and local laws requiring defensible space including trimming trees and removal of brush and debris from yard. See CAL FIRE’s defensible space page and your local city or county for details.
- Being safer together– Safer from Wildfires recognizes two community-wide programs, Firewise USA and Fire Risk Reduction Communities as small as 8 dwelling units or as big as 2,500 can create an action plan and start being safer together. Firewise USA is a nationally recognized program with proven results, sponsored by the National Fire Prevention Association. *The MHFSC will evaluate whether Mission Hills is eligible for such designations.*
For more information, contact your home insurance provider and ask what discounts are available if one or more of the above actions were taken on your home.
Local Emergency / Fire Resources
- San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (https://www.sandiego.gov/fire)
- County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services (https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/oes.html)
- Genasys Protect – Download Genasys Protect mobile app https://protect.genasys.com/download
- Alert San Diego (https://www.alertsandiego.org/)
- Fire Safe Council of San Diego County (https://firesafesdcounty.org/)
Other Resources
- CalFire (www.readyforwildfire.org)
- Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Wildfire Prepared Home (www.wildfireprepared.org)
- FireWise USA (www.nfpa.org)
- Wildfire Risk Reduction and Asset Program (WRAP) Resource Center (www.uphelp.org/WRAP)
Other Mobile Applications
- Watch Duty – Notifies you of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real-time. https://www.watchduty.org/
- PulsePoint Response – Informs you of emergencies occurring nearby. https://www/pulsepoint.org
Stay Safe. Stay Informed. Stay Connected.
We are neighbors helping neighbors. Whether you’re new to Mission Hills or a long-time resident, MHFSC is your resource for staying wildfire-ready year-round. Want to help make Mission Hills safer from wildfire? Whether you’re interested in volunteering, or just staying informed, we’d love to hear from you.
Email us below with any questions or suggestions.