To the untrained eye, it's just your typical swimming pool. But to an Orange County firefighter, that shimmering backyard oasis may represent the latest in firefighting equipment.
The water in one average swimming pool could fill up to 20 fire engines. Which means that in the event of a fire, harnessing the water capacity of Orange County's more than 108,000 residential swimming pools would be the rough equivalent of having 2.16 million water-carrying trucks to call upon. That would go a long way toward assisting the Orange County Fire Authority's 82 fire engines.
The county's firefighting force is teaming up with the city of Mission Viejo to tap that potential. The city's Fire Safe Council is launching a campaign urging 6,000 Mission Viejo homeowners to grant firefighters access to their backyard pools and spas in the case of an emergency.
The effort to recruit pool and spa owners will be combined with a citywide safety campaign to encourage people to fireproof their homes and surroundings. Officials hope other areas will follow the council's lead.
"We are hoping that this will be a model program all communities can use," Mission Viejo Mayor Sherri M. Butterfield said. "It's a twofold program that makes firefighters aware of resources in the community and makes people aware of what they can do around their homes in what could be a very serious fire season."
Capt. Scott Brown of the Orange County Fire Authority says that while the weather has been milder than expected, the back country remains dry and could pose a fire hazard as summer temperatures rise. Brown said he also hopes the volunteer program will catch on.
"We see the benefits of this program in terms of a better-prepared community," Brown said. "And it also gives us more water sources if the main water system is not working."
A white or silver sign--a swimmer in the water--will be stenciled on the curb outside participants' homes. This quickly flags firefighters to where they are welcome.
Garrett McCord, a 16-year-old student at Mission Viejo High School, has volunteered to coordinate the project as he goes about trying to earn his Eagle Scout badge. He will keep a list of participants and assign fellow Boy Scouts to do curb stencilings. He predicts they'll be busy.
"I think a good percentage of people will participate," Garrett said. "I have confidence in people when it comes to benefiting others."
