If You Choose to Leave Early . . . Leave Responsibly

Most people live in Topanga because they heard of its quietness, community feeling, safety and natural beauty. Perhaps wildfire dangers were not high on your list of concerns when you moved here. But those dangers are part of the package, just as much as the owl calls off your deck, or the sight of a bobcat disappearing around the corner of your house.

What you do in an emergency affects not only yourself and your family but also your neighbors and the wider circle of people unknown to you who you are expecting to come to your aid.

There are many reasons why you might elect to throw a few key possessions and your family into a car and get out at the first sign of a wildfire. But that cannot excuse you for not making adequate preparations to ensure your home does not become the source of unnecessary danger or loss to others. Preparation for emergencies in Topanga is part of the dues to be paid along with your real estate taxes and putting up with traffic on Pacific Coast Highway.