For Immediate Release                                 
September 14, 2001

Community Meeting to Help Families Prepare for Wildland Fires

San José, California – The City of San José Office of Emergency Services (OES) will host a community meeting on Monday, September 17, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss how families can prepare for the wildland fire season.  The meeting will be held at the Piedmont Middle School Library, located at 955 Piedmont Road in San José.

Topics for discussion will be family evacuation and reunification plans, car kits, vegetation management and fire resistant landscaping, and shelter-in-place and other information helpful to people living in areas vulnerable to wildland fires.  Representatives from the Office of Emergency Services will provide tips on how to survive a wildland fire and how to protect your property.  Presentations will also include information on San José Prepared! – a community-based emergency response training program that trains residents to effectively assist their families and the community in times of disaster.  Displays and critical emergency information handouts will be available at the event.

Councilmember Chuck Reed and Assistant Fire Chief Dale Foster of the San José Fire Department will be in attendance at the meeting, along with the City’s OES Director Dr. Frances Edwards-Winslow and OES staff, to provide information and answer questions.

For more information, residents can call (408) 277-4596.

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San Jose City Hall      801 N. First St., San Jose,  CA 95110      tel (408) 277-5131  fax ( 408) 277-3131     www.ci.san-jose.ca.us