Fire

The best way to protect you and your family from fire is to identify fire hazards in and around your home and make a fire safety plan. The American Red Cross has many useful tip sheets for identifying Fire Safety and Escape Planning.

Wild Fires

Many areas of CA, including Monterey County, are at high risk for wildfires.  Since 1950, 56 percent of Presidential declared disasters in California were the result of wildfires.

2008 Fort Hunter Liggett Fire (Monterey County Herald, Orville Myer)

Defensible Space

The best way to protect your home is to create a defensible space:

• Remove all flammable vegetation around all structures. State law requires a minimum of 100 feet of clearance, but check with your insurance agent to see if your carrier requires more. For more information about state law, contact your local fire department.
• Trim trees so branches are six feet from the ground and 10 feet from your chimney. Remove branches overhanging your roof.
• Call your utility company for help with trees near power lines. Never trim these yourself.
• Remove any dead trees.
• Cut weeds and dead grasses six inches or shorter.
• Always work early in the morning and make sure your power tools have spark arresters to prevent equipment-caused fires.
• Ask your local nursery about landscaping with beautiful, fire-resistant plants.
• Maintain defensible space by cleaning up plant litter and watering properly.

Evacuation

In the event of a wildfire you maybe asked to evacuate your home. Wildfires spread quickly and if asked to evacauate by your local office of emergency services, you should not hesitate. In a wild fire, every second counts! If you need to evacaute, here are a list of supplies to take with you:

• Water-one gallon per person, per day (at least a 3 day supply)
• Food-non-perishable, easy-to-prepare
• Flashlight
• Battery-poered or hand-crank radio
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7 day supply)
• Multi-purpose tool
• Copies of medical documents, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map of the area
• DON’T FORGET YOUR PETS (for a list of pet evacuation supplies, click here)

*Information was taken from CalEMA, Preparing for Wild Fire