On Aug. 15, 2003 the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council, in cooperation with the Riverside County Mountain Area Safety Task Force (MAST), held a public meeting at the Idyllwild School Auditorium on evacuation plans and other fire-related issues. Specifics of the plan include determining the order of evacuation depending on where the emergency exists so that those the closest are evacuated first and so that the evacuation can be orderly and not overcrowd limited roadways or prevent emergency vehicles from getting where they are needed.

Local and county fire officials presented information on tree mortality and fire hazard in the forest and a status report on hazard abatement inspections on the Hill. Southern California Edison reported on the company's efforts to remove dead and dying trees that threaten power lines. Mountain Disaster Preparedness discussed a number of issues related to evacuation, and the MCFSC announced details of two major fuel reduction projects it will be conducting over the next 18 months.