Block Captains

The Del Mar Fire Safe Council is a citizen-led group formed in 2026 to help residents understand wildfire risks and improve the fire safety of their homes, gardens, neighborhoods, and natural surroundings.We work with the Del Mar Fire Department and other Fire Safe Councils in our region to provide information, resources, and tools to help protect our community from wildfire.

A Block Captain is a volunteer who connects with about 10–15 nearby households to build a neighborhood communication group. Captains share information about wildfire risks, defensible space, Fire Safe Council and Fire Department events, and other fire-safety news.Captains also help identify neighbors who may need additional assistance during an emergency, including people with mobility challenges. The program envisions coordinating with Del Mar Community Connections, our local nonprofit supporting seniors, to help understand those needs.During a wildfire, captains may forward evacuation and safety information when it is safe to do so. The Del Mar Fire Safe Council and Block Captains are not responsible for evacuations.

Gather contact information from about 10–15 nearby households, or more if possible, with their permission.Create a neighborhood text or email group. Text is preferred for timely messages. Send a test message and ask neighbors to confirm they received it.Share useful information about fire prevention, preparedness, Fire Safe Council and Fire Department events, and other fire-safety news.Consider different needs. Ask how to reach neighbors who don’t use text messages and whether anyone may need additional assistance during an emergency.Encourage neighbors to stay informed. Sign up for AlertSanDiego and become familiar with Genasys Protect and Watch Duty. Encourage neighbors to do the same.Forward official evacuation warnings and orders when safe. Your own safety comes first; do not delay leaving to send messages. Listen and connect. Listen to neighbors’ wildfire questions and concerns, and bring them to the Del Mar Fire Safe Council for information and guidance.

Prepare emergency supplies and a go-bag for your household, and encourage neighbors to do the same. Preparing ahead gives everyone more time to respond when needed.Know your evacuation routes and alternatives, and follow instructions from public-safety officials during an emergency.Visit our Get Ready page for information about alerts, evacuation planning, and what to pack.

Evacuation warning: Prepare to leave and monitor official updates. Forward the warning to your neighborhood group when safe.Evacuation order: Leave immediately and follow public-safety instructions. Do not delay leaving to contact neighbors.Share information safely: Forward official notices only when it is safe to do so. Encourage neighbors to receive alerts directly rather than relying on messages from their Block Captain.

If you already know your neighbors and have most of their contact information, gathering the remaining details may take an hour or less. Setting up a text or email group may take about 20 minutes. Allow more time if you’re starting from scratch.After that, plan on roughly one to two hours per month to share fire-safety information, events, and preparedness updates, depending on how often you send messages.This is a volunteer role, and we appreciate the time neighbors contribute to helping our community prepare.

Personal contact information stays with your Block Captain. You will not be added to the Del Mar Fire Safe Council email distribution list unless you choose to sign up.Participation is voluntary, and you can ask to be removed from the neighborhood contact list at any time.

No. Participation is voluntary. Ask neighbors before adding them to a text or email group, and respect their decision if they decline or later ask to leave.

Any resident who wants to help their neighbors prepare for wildfire can volunteer. You don’t need fire-safety expertise. What matters is being approachable, organized, willing to share information, and respectful of neighbors’ choices. Co-captains can share the work.If you’re interested, or know someone who might be, contact us to discuss your neighborhood and volunteering.

We encourage captains to find a co-captain who can share the work and help keep neighbors informed when one of you is away.

No. Block Captains share information about fire safety, home hardening, and preparing for wildfire and possible evacuation. They do not inspect properties or enforce rules.Fire-safety compliance is handled by the Del Mar Fire Department and the City of Del Mar.

Not necessarily. The program is initially focused on High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, including much of the residential area east of Camino del Mar. Some captains may cover more than one street or block.We’re seeking volunteers from Torrey Pines Terrace in the south to North Hills in the north. If you haven’t heard from a Block Captain, your street may need a volunteer. Contact us to ask about your neighborhood or express interest in helping.

Aim for about 10–15 nearby households on your street or block. Start with the neighbors you know and build from there. Some captains may cover more homes or work together with a co-captain.