Rolling Hills Block Captain Quarterly meeting
DECK: The Block Captains hold quarterly meetings to discuss current issues related to disaster preparedness. The February 22, 2025 meeting held at Rolling Hills City Hall focused on fires.
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Historically, Rolling Hills experienced fires in 1979, when 11 homes were destroyed, and again in 2009 when several homes were damaged. Despite the beauty of the canyons, hills and extensive vegetation, it makes the City vulnerable to wild fires and designates it as a VERY HIGH FIRE RISK AREA. Along with the devasting and destructive Palisades and Eaton fires in the beginning of 2025, where thousands of homes were lost and multiple fatalities occurred, as well as the earlier fires in Malibu and Ventura County, it ignited numerous questions from the Block Captains for the First Responders in attendance at the meeting.
Four deputies from the L.A. County Sheriff Station in Lomita, including Captain Kimberly Guerrero, attended the quarterly meeting. Notifications and procedures to be followed in an emergency situation were presented in a very informative slide show by Deputy Sheriff Derek Clotworthy. He explained the process and resources the Sheriffs would use, including going door to door to notify residents. If an evacuation is needed, the Sheriffs would direct and monitor traffic for orderly ingress and egress. Clotworthy recommended all residents sign up for alerts and get up to date status reports from GENASYS PROTECT and ALERT SOUTH BAY. An additional app, WATCH DUTY, gets its information from Genasys.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) was represented by Assistant Fire Chief Brian Kane from Division 1, which includes the cities in the South Bay. He addressed the issues of water availability stating that all RH fire hydrants are tested annually. A helo pod automatic filling high capacity water dip tank has been installed in Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) and two more are scheduled to be installed in or near the Palos Verdes Peninsula (PVP). A water tender vehicle is stationed on PVP and more can be called in as needed. Also, residents' pools can be used as a source of water. The RH Association office has pool stickers for address signs (or mailbox) to alert first responders to pool water availability. Wind and weather permitting, air support can use ocean water. An excellent presentation on fires by Assistant Fire Chief Kane at a January 2025 RH City Council meeting is available on the RH City website.
Annie Occhipinti, the current President of the RHCA Board, reported on the ongoing project of clearing and trimming trees in the 10 foot road side easements. The RHCA recently approved widening the Crest Road East gate from one lane to two lanes to be used only as an emergency road for ingress and egress.
Block Captain Rae Walker reported on the coordinated project with residents on Wagon Lane to remove and trim trees that would impede access and egress in an emergency. KUDOS to those residents for taking the initiative for roadside clearance.
The siren project remains a work in progress. Three sirens are situated around RH. One at the RH City Hall area, the Fire Station on Crest Road and by the Crest Road East (closed) gate. Arlene Honbo reported that the vendor has promised that residents will be able to hear the warnings and audio messages.
The Hardening the Home and Canyon Management videos are available on the RH City website and YouTube.
The RH Block Captain motto is:
STAY SAFE AND ALIVE IN TWENTY TWENTY-FIVE!