On Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003 the MCFSC held a meeting to discuss a possible reverse 911 phone calling system which would notify residents of emergency events. About 100 people were in attendance.

Karen Patterson, a MCFSC volunteer, described how such a system works and that the cost would be about $30,000. The system would be set up to make 30 second or less recorded calls. Costs would include a computer database, monitoring mapping system and program training. Ongoing costs would include personnel and maintenance. It could also provide an "elderly person alert."

Garrick Lahoda reported that the Riverside County Board of Supervisors is investigating the reverse 911 calling system system and should be making a report in a couple of weeks.

Idyllwild Fire Chief Tim Gustafson said everyone living in mountain communities needs to be prepared for wildfires.

The MCFSC is working on projects to help homeowners abate their properties so fires like the ones in San Barnardino and San Diego Counties do not happen here.