Before the town hall, an evacuation drill was held in an El Dorado Hills neighborhood.
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — As fire weather intensified across Northern California, residents in El Dorado Hills gathered for an evacuation town hall Sunday focused on wildfire preparedness. The meeting came as the region entered a Red Flag Warning, prompting urgency among officials and locals alike.
Firefighters remained on alert during the event, their radios crackling in the background, prepared to respond at any moment.
“It’s ironic — today is a Red Flag Warning day,” said Chief Michael Lilienthal of the El Dorado Hills Fire Department. “We have critical fire weather right now as we’re doing this. Crews have been training and getting ready... we are ready to respond now in case something does come in today and this weekend.”
Although El Dorado County was on the edge of the Red Flag Warning area, officials said the abundance of dry grass and vegetation still poses a serious threat.
Resident Judy Arrigotti, aware of the high fire risk, adjusted her weekend plans accordingly.
“We were going to mow today,” Arrigotti said. “We heard that there was a high fire danger if we mowed today, so we hurried up and mowed yesterday.”
Fire agencies advise homeowners to create at least 100 feet of defensible space around their properties, a strategy meant to slow the spread of wildfire and protect structures.
Sgt. Kyle Parker with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office encouraged attendees to sign up for emergency alerts and prepare a “go-bag” that includes documents, medications, food, and water
Free go-bags were available at the event for those who hadn’t yet put one together. Teresa Reagan, a town hall attendee, took five to distribute to her elderly neighbors.
“I noticed they weren’t here, and I live in a cul-de-sac,” Reagan said. “In our cul-de-sac, we have a lot of elderly community, so I want to make sure they are also prepared.”
The evacuation town hall followed a morning evacuation drill in a nearby neighborhood. As fire weather continues, emergency officials are urging everyone in fire-prone areas to stay alert and take proactive steps now.
“The most important thing is they are working in coordination, and they are fully aware of all these things,” Arrigotti said.
Watch more from ABC10: California Weather | Red Flag Warning and high fire danger