In the aftermath of the 2003 Cedar and 2007 Witch Creek Fires, it became evident that a passive "wait and hope" approach regarding the wildfire threat was no longer viable.  Rancho Penasquitos, with its neighborhoods surrounded by many canyons and hills, needed to develop its own wildfire mitigation strategies.  The San Diego County Fire Safe Council, which had been primarily focused on rural San Diego County communities, recognized that some urban communities were equally vulnerable to wildfire.  

      In 2008, the Rancho Penasquitos Fire Safe Council was formed under the auspices of the Rancho Penasquitos Town Council  to help share the best approaches to wildfire threat mitigation.

      2008 was also the year that a significantly revised California Building Code required all new houses to have Class A roofs, screened vents and fire-resistant siding, among other changes in home construction design and building materials, for better wildfire survive-ability.  The Code revision was a proven success and since then, major funding for wildfire research has advanced our understanding of why some houses survive wildfires and others fail.

      The RP Fire Safe Council is following this positive and trailblazing trend and passing on the evolving "best practices" in our Links, to guide and benefit residents of Rancho Penasquitos.