Public encouraged to prepare for upcoming fire season

EPHRATA — The wildfire season’s return is expected any day, and Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones suggests that residents of the County be prepared.

“Know how to respond to emergency evacuations,” Jones said.

The sheriff’s office provides emergency mass notifications to protect the public. During evacuations, deputies will go door-to-door to the affected areas (if safe for deputies to do so).

The GCSO also provides mass notification via free subscription-based email or text messages. It also posts evacuation alerts and emergency information on its Facebook page and Twitter feed. See information below to find out how to subscribe.

For evacuations, there are three alert levels:

Level 1: Ready. Level 1 evacuations are an alert. There is no immediate danger to your home, family, or business, but the fire (or other danger) may be moving toward you. Now is the time to get ready. Refine your evacuation plans, and gather the things you’ll need if you must evacuate. Residents with special needs, or those with pets or livestock, should take note and make preparations for relocating family members, pets, and livestock.

Level 2: Set. Level 2 evacuations indicate there is a significant risk to your area. The fire (or other danger) is moving closer to you. A mandatory evacuation order may be issued at any time. Now is the time to prepare for immediate evacuation. Resident should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the area, or, be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Level 3: Go! Level 3 means you are in immediate danger. Load your family and pets into your vehicle, and GO NOW. There will be no further warnings!

To know when your area may be under evacuation orders, there are several different ways GCSO gets the word out, all of which are free for the public:

• Local media (TV and radio) updates. GCSO partners with the media to help spread the word.
• Sheriff’s Nixle Mass Notification System https://local.nixle.com/grant-county-sheriffs-office
• The GCSO’s Facebook page: facebook.com/GrantCoSheriff
• GCSO on Twitter: @GrantCoSheriff
• Mobile Patrol Smartphone app for Apple and Android devices: http://www.appriss.com/MP_Download/

“Please take the time to sit down with your family and neighbors to discuss this life-saving information,” Jones said.