LAMORINDA WEEKLY | MOFD rolls out wildfire safety message with 'Golden Ticket' mailing


Wildfire Safety Golden Ticket Crew, from left: Moraga Police Chief Jon King, Rescue 1 Foundation Board Members Maridel Moulton and Gordon Nathan, Moraga School District's Judy Silva, MOFD Clerk of the Board, Marcia Holbrook, and MOFD Fire Chief Dave Winnacker. Photo courtesy MOFD

With another wildland fire season quickly approaching the Moraga-Orinda Fire District is sending out its annual wildfire safety postcard. The mailing goes out to over 14,000 property owners and is designed to inform residents about the steps they can take to comply with the fire code and increase the probability their home will survive a wildfire.

The Fire District is always looking for new ways to engage the community and increase the effectiveness of communications to the residents, so this year it partnered with Miramonte High School's Digital Design Class to restyle the postcard. The class' artwork brings the safety information up to date, clarifies the message and makes the card more readable. The new twist this year is that several of the postcards will include a Willy Wonka inspired "Golden Ticket." The first resident to present their Golden Ticket will win a ride in a fire engine during the Orinda Fourth of July Parade. Other lucky residents receiving golden tickets will be able to redeem them for a special family ride in one of the District's fire engines. MOFD Fire Chief Dave Winnacker said, "We want to stress the importance of being prepared for wildfire season, encourage families to take protective measures early, and have some fun because who doesn't want to ride in a fire engine "

Judy Silva from Camino Pablo Elementary School in Moraga applied the official MOFD gold seal to seven postcards at the Minuteman Press offices in Lafayette on May 30. Rescue One Foundation board members Maridel Moulton and Gordon Nathan acted as official observers to certify the process. Jon King, the Chief of Police for the Town of Moraga and Winnacker were also on hand to witness the process and escort the Golden Tickets to the post office.