Archives for May 2, 2024

To commemorate National Wildflower Week, Irvine Ranch Conservancy will host a special “Wildflower Takeover” on Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ social media pages from May 5-11, 2024! Followers will get a unique look at a variety of floral species that call the Landmarks home. 

Wildflowers to be featured this year include: Cobweb Thistle, Longleaf Bush Lupine, Southern Bush Monkey Flower, California Buckwheat, California Goldfields, Purple Owl’s Clover, and Black Sage. Virtual takeover participants can look forward to posts that will include images and fun facts about these seven amazing native wildflower species that visitors can find on the Landmarks. By following the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, nature enthusiasts can experience the colorful bounty of spring’s flora and learn more about various wildflower attributes that contribute to the beauty and ecosystem of the Landmarks.

WHEN:
Sunday, May 5 – Saturday, May 11, 2024

WHERE:
Follow along on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

DETAILS:

For additional information about Irvine Ranch Conservancy and their mission to preserve and protect the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, visit IRConservancy.org

Orange County Fire Watch to Host 2024 Fire Watch Symposium on National Wildfire Preparedness Day

The Annual Event Will be Streamed on YouTube May 4th.

Orange County Fire Watch will host their annual 2024 Fire Watch Symposium on Saturday, May 4 at the Quail Hill Community Center in Irvine. Held annually during California Wildfire Preparedness Week, the Symposium will educate the community about the upcoming fire season, with an emphasis this year on protecting residences from potential wildfires and the steps being taken by local agencies and organizations to prepare for and mitigate such negative impact caused. The event is open to the public with the opportunity to attend in person or stream online through the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s YouTube page.

During the program, attendees will hear presentations from fire prevention specialists, wildland resource planners, park rangers and fire agency representatives, including those from OC Parks and Irvine Ranch Conservancy. 

The event will feature a keynote presentation from members of the Community Association of Rancho (CAR), an organization comprising of residents of the HOAs located in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita and nearby cities. Residents of Rancho Santa Margarita and associated HOAs are located in a high-risk wildfire zone, and they’ve had a history of significant wildfires within and near their communities. Their mission is to provide a united residential effort and voice for communicating wildfire preparedness to their constituents.

CAR representatives will present on how local residents can perform a residential fire hardening assessment with the OCFA to protect their homes, how residents can overcome challenges in securing fire insurance in the state of California, as well as common issues/remedies which are related to ember management. Orange County Fire Authority’s Wildfire Prevention and Community Education divisions will also present beneficial information for the area’s homeowners and residents.

The Orange County Fire Watch program is facilitated in partnership with OC Parks, the City of Irvine, City of Newport Beach, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). The volunteer program is managed by Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff, and its mission is to reduce catastrophic wildfires through education, early reporting and deterrence.

WHEN:
Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• 8:00-8:30 a.m. – Registration and sign in
• 8:30-9:00 a.m. – Refreshments (breakfast, beverages and other snacks) and socialize
• 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. – Presentations

WHERE:
Quail Hill Community Center, 39 Shady Canyon Dr., Irvine, CA 92603

REGISTER:

For more information on the 2024 Fire Watch Symposium and to register, please click here.