East County residents were urged to treat wildfire preparation as a year-round responsibility during a recent home assessment tour in Mt. Helix.

The tour, hosted by the Rancho Helix de Oro Fire Safe Council at the home of co-chair Lidia Chang, brought neighbors together for a walk-through led by a San Miguel Fire and Rescue Department fire inspector, according to East County Magazine. The council is part of the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County.

Participants reviewed common vulnerabilities around homes, including roof and vent exposure, landscaping, tree limbs, access routes for fire engines and the visibility of house numbers. The report emphasized that work done months or years before a fire can affect whether a structure survives.

Fire officials also discussed defensible space, evacuation plans, go bags, clear roofs and gutters, and the need to reduce ember intrusion through vents and attic spaces. San Miguel Fire and Rescue offers free home assessments, according to the article.

The guidance is especially relevant for Santee and nearby East County communities, where dry brush, canyons and wind can turn fire conditions dangerous quickly. Read the original story from East County Magazine.