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Laguna Woods proclaims wildfire awareness season as OCFA urges residents to prepare
Summary
Laguna Woods City Council adopted a wildfire awareness proclamation calling for heightened public education and preparedness; Orange County Fire Authority presented prevention resources including the Ready, Set, Go program and offered free home assessments and classes.
Mayor McCary opened the meeting by asking the council to consider a City of Laguna Woods wildfire awareness and prevention proclamation for midsummer through early fall 2026. The proclamation, read by the city clerk, cited statewide wildfire losses and urged residents and businesses to take precautions.
The council received a presentation from Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Reed Gibson and OCFA community educator Milton Nier, who described local preparedness resources. Gibson said OCFA provides year-round education and outreach and emphasized that “it all starts with the smallest bit — a spark.” Nier promoted OCFA’s Ready, Set, Go program, described free home wildfire risk assessments and walked through creating a 72-hour disaster kit, urging residents to develop family evacuation and communication plans. He provided OCFA contacts and online resources for scheduling classes and assessments.
The proclamation lists recent statewide wildfire statistics and encourages residents to take steps to reduce ignition risk and plan for evacuation. After brief public comment commending the city and OCFA for preparedness efforts, the council moved to approve the proclamation and adopted it unanimously. Councilmembers and staff said the city will continue coordinating with OCFA on outreach and training opportunities.
Why it matters: Laguna Woods has a high concentration of older adults and sits in a region of increasing wildfire risk. The city’s proclamation and OCFA’s outreach focus on practical steps that residents, homeowners associations and caretakers can take ahead of peak fire season.
What’s next: Council and staff said they will continue to coordinate outreach with OCFA, make information available through the city’s channels and explore scheduling additional community training and assessments in coordination with OCFA.
