Becoming a Neighborhood Ambassador

 Thank you for volunteering to be an OFSC Neighborhood Ambassador! Together we will forge a more resilient community that is safer from wildfire.

What is a Neighborhood Ambassador?

 OFSC Neighborhood Ambassadors are volunteers who live in Olivenhain and serve as leadership contacts in their neighborhoods to share the most current wildfire prevention and preparedness information and resources from public safety agencies and organizations.

Our Neighborhood Ambassador program is based on one created by the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, which has introduced it in multiple states. It is similar to Poway’s longstanding Neighborhood Emergency Corps program.

As an OFSC Neighborhood Ambassador, you will be a point person in your neighborhood to work with your neighbors (and any other Ambassadors—there can be more than one per neighborhood) to identify and address unique needs relating to wildfire. These may include:

  • vegetation overgrowth proximity to open space

  • road or driveway access for firefighters

  • evacuation challenges

  • address signs that aren’t visible to firefighters

  • homes that need to be hardened against embers

  • homes needing defensible space cleared

  • other issues that arise

You should also take the lead in identifying any vulnerable residents who may need assistance in an evacuation or connection to resources to help them with prevention measures.

In addition, you will help keep your neighbors informed about:

  • Red Flag Warnings

  • OFSC events

  • Encinitas Fire Department events and alerts

  • Activities and opportunities relating to prevention and preparedness

  • Any other wildfire-related needs in the neighborhood and

  • How to prepare for a wildfire or other emergency, much as a block captain does for a Neighborhood Watch.

If you live in a community with an HOA, you can leverage the HOA structure to make your community safer through structure-hardening and defensible space projects and vegetation management activities that benefit the entire community. 

Ideally, you will become the go-to person for your neighbors if they have questions and concerns relating to wildfire, and if you can’t answer them, you can reach out to OFSC to get them the information they need.

You can tailor the program to the needs of your neighborhood, including taking the lead in pursuing Firewise USA recognition, which is a science-based, community-level approach to wildfire mitigation that will make you and your neighbors (and the rest of Olivenhain) safer from wildfire. Some insurance companies also take Firewise USA recognition into consideration when making premium and underwriting decisions.

What does it take to be a Neighborhood Ambassador?

  • Ambassadors should know at least some of their neighbors to start and be outgoing enough to reach out to everyone and keep them engaged and informed. It also helps to be organized and collaborative and the kind of person who keeps feelers out for new information and opportunities.

  • Ambassadors need to be tactful when dealing with neighbors, some of whom may not immediately embrace their suggestions.

  • It is helpful, but not mandatory, to be tech-savvy enough to be conversant with a computer or device such as a tablet or smartphone for communications.

  • You’ll need to compile and maintain updated contact information for your neighbors so you know how to reach them with important information. Has someone new moved in? You can welcome them to the neighborhood and tell them about OFSC and the challenges we all face and the resources they should know about. In some cases, you may want to work with the HOA for neighbor outreach.

  • Being open to new ideas and strategies is also a valuable trait.

  • So is using your imagination to come up with novel ways to communicate with your neighbors about wildfire and plan mitigation and educational activities.

Contact Lou Obertreis or Sarah Lifton for more information.