By SDCN Editor
Sacramento, CA–As critical Cal Fire weather continues to increase wildfire risk across much of Southern California, Cal Fire is urging all residents to take proactive steps to protect their families, homes, and communities. The “Ready, Set, Go!” campaign offers clear guidance to ensure everyone is prepared for wildfire emergencies.
Prepare your home and property: Create defensible space and harden your home. Wildfires can spread quickly, but acting now can increase your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. Here’s how to prepare:
Defensible Space: Maintain at least 100 feet of defensible space around your home. Clear dead vegetation, trim tree branches, and keep grass mowed to no more than four inches. Remove all flammable items within the first five feet of your home.
Home Hardening: Use non-combustible building materials, install ember-resistant vents, and ensure roofs and gutters are free of debris. Make sure any flammable items such as furniture, potted plants, fabric door mats, and firewood are removed from within five feet of your home.
Develop a Wildfire Action Plan: Advanced planning can save lives and property. Be sure to:
Identify an Evacuation Route: Have multiple evacuation routes and practice them.
Stay Informed: Californians can sign up for emergency alerts to receive evacuation and repopulation notifications.
Protect Valuables: Back up critical documents to the cloud or store them in a fireproof safe. Have a copy in your Go Bag.
Emergency Supplies: Prepare a “Go Bag” with essential items such as water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, important documents, and clothing.
Act Early: If a wildfire threatens your area, don’t wait to evacuate. Leaving early can make all the difference. Follow these tips:
Follow law enforcement Orders: Evacuate immediately when an official order is issued.
Keep Calm: Drive with caution and follow designated evacuation routes.
Stay Connected: Inform family or friends of your location and plans.
Check on elderly neighbors and those who may need more time to leave.
“By following the Ready, Set, Go! guidelines and preparing ahead of wildfire, we can all play a part in protecting ourselves, our families, communities, and the environment,” said Cal Fire Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler.
Cal Fire has taken extensive measures to prepare for the increased wildfire threats due to critical fire weather and is ready to respond swiftly. Strategic placement of firefighting equipment, aircraft, and personnel have been prepositioned throughout areas of Southern California including Cal Fire Incident Management Team 4.
As Cal Fire prepares for the Red Flag Warning wind event in Southern California, crews focus on containment efforts, fire suppression repair, and watershed assessments on the Palisades and Eaton fires. Simultaneously, efforts to prepare the burned landscape for the winter rains.
For more information on wildfire preparedness, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
