As we watch the events in Southern California unfold, many people are rightfully concerned about how events such as these can be prevented.

It is important to know that fire events in which there are extremely high winds are very difficult, if not impossible to control once ignited, so preventing ignition is key.

In order to prevent ignition, here are some tips...

• Make sure any trees under or in the vicinity of power lines are trimmed. Nothing should be within 10 feet of the powerlines.
• On high fire danger days, do not do anything to increase the likelihood of a fire such as
  • Don’t do any mowing, weed eating, or trimming using power tools
  • Do not use any devices or equipment using flames such as Barbeque Grills, torches, or other such equipment
  • Do not discard coals from fireplaces, chimeneas or Barbeques into combustible containers
  • Do not smoke outdoors, and make sure to discard smoking materials properly

Once a fire has started, making sure you and your home are prepared as you can be. This involves several key points:

• Ensure your home has effective defensible space. This should start in the late spring after the last rains before warm weather starts.
  • You can find defensible space guidelines here: https://readyforwildfire.org/preparefor-wildfire/defensible-space/
• Harden your home against wildfire. This should be a year round activity.
  • You can harden your home against wildfire by retrofitting it for wildfire resistance. This information can be found at https://readyforwildfire.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/03/wildfire-home-retrfito-guide-1.26.21.pdf
  • You can also find low cost retrofit advice here: https://readyforwildfire.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/05/Low-Cost-Retrofit-List-Updated-5_1_2024.pdf
• Have a plan, not only for wildfire, but for all disasters.
  • Register for SMC Alerts at https://www.smcgov.org/dem/smc-alert
  • Register for alerts and find your evacuation zone at https://protect.genasys.com/search
  • Create a wildfire action plan: https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-forwildfire/wildfire-action-plan/
  • Have a go bag: https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/emergency-supplykit/
• Find additional information at www.readyforwildfire.org

SMC Fire is always preparing for wildfires. Here are some of the things we do to ensure your safety:

• We complete annual inspections of wildfire zones. These inspections start in the late spring. You can find more information at www.smcfire.org.
• We also take and follow up on complaints if neighbors see issues our inspectors don’t catch, or if the issues occur in areas not subject to inspections. Anyone can submit a complaint to us at https://www.smcfire.org/report-a-fire-hazard/
• We monitor all changes in State Law, and help advise the State on current wildfire protection practices
• Our firefighters certify annually in wildfire response and protection practices utilizing all current technology to assist us for effective responses
• We maintain our equipment to be ready at all times
• We monitor conditions and issue alerts when necessary
• We ensure that buildings constructed in wildfire zones meet the appropriate safety standards.

Wildfire preparedness is a team effort, and everyone needs to do their part. The combination of preparedness and awareness on the part of the city, the department, and the citizens is the only way to minimize damage in the long run.

If you have any questions, please go to our website at www.smcfire.org, email us at fire@smcfire.org or call us at 650-522-7900.