Reduce Risk
Knowledge Is One of the Most Effective Wildfire Protection Tools
Wildfire preparedness begins long before smoke appears on the horizon.This section provides information to help you understand wildfire risk and take meaningful steps to improve safety.
Defensible Space
Defensible space is the buffer between a structure and surrounding vegetation.
Properly maintained defensible space can:
- Slow the spread of wildfire
- Reduce flame lengths
- Improve firefighter access
- Increase the chances that a home survives a wildfire
Learn about:
- Zone 0 (0–5 feet from the home)
- Zone 1 (5–30 feet)
- Zone 2 (30–100 feet)
- Vegetation management
- Maintenance best practices
Home Hardening
Did you know that embers are responsible for the majority of homes lost during wildfires? Embers from a wildfire are created when flames consume trees, brush, or structures. Burning particles from these events break off and are easily transported by wind. They can land directly on vulnerable points on your home or property to spread fire fast.
High winds like we get in our area keep the embers airborne, flying high in the air, for a long time. Under normal conditions they can travel up to one or two miles ahead of the front of the fire. In high winds, such as our Santa Ana winds, they can travel five to ten miles ahead of the flames.
This means the embers can reach our homes anywhere from a few minutes to several hours before the actual flames arrive, making early evacuation critical. Home hardening focuses on reducing vulnerabilities that allow embers to ignite structures.
Protecting your home from flying embers includes actively managing the following entry points:
Family Preparedness
Advance preparation helps reduce stress and confusion during an emergency.
To be prepared, we must all learn how to:
- Build an evacuation plan
- Prepare go-bags
- Protect important documents
- Prepare pets and livestock
- Stay informed during emergencies
- Communicate with family members during evacuations
Continuing Education
Wildfire science and best practices continue to evolve. We encourage homeowners to participate in our community presentations, workshops, and training opportunities announced through this website and through emails throughout the year.
