By: Katie Low, UC ANR Fire Network Coordinator
Wildfire season is in full swing.
With so many fires burning around the state, the UC ANR Fire Network is providing some tips to prepare for evacuation and wildfire smoke.
The best time to prepare for evacuation is before the wildfire starts.
Prepare an evacuation bag for every person in your household before a wildfire and keep it easily accessible.
Plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time and make the bags light enough to lift into a vehicle.
Be sure to pack, car keys, credit cards, cash, medications, important documents and clothing.
Click HERE for a full checklist.
There are also several actions you can take to prepare yourself and your family for evacuation, including moving combustible patio furniture inside or sealing up ground or attic vents with plywood or metal tape.
More evacuation preparation tips can be found HERE.
Another thing to be mindful of is smoke exposure from wildfires, which is an increasingly common public health hazard to California’s communities.
To prepare for wildfire smoke you can:
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Checking the air quality near you at https://fire.airnow.gov
- Limit your outdoor activity during days where air quality is poor
- Wearing a N95 mask if you’re outside during days where air quality is poor
- Running an air purifier
There are many great resources that you can use to monitor air quality and understand smoke impacts near you:
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The California Smoke Spotter app provides the latest information on prescribed fires and wildfires, air quality and smoke forecasts throughout California.
- The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map provides current information on PM 2.5, wildfire locations and smoke plumes, and special smoke outlooks when available.
- The California Smoke Blog provides smoke outlooks for communities affected by wildfire smoke and other resources to protect yourself from smoke.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources connects the power of UC research in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition and youth development with local communities to improve the lives of all Californians.
 Join the UC ANR Fire Network for a
Smoke exposure from wildfires is an increasingly common public health hazard for communities throughout California.
Knowing where to find accurate information and being prepared to act when smoke is in the air can help you protect yourself and your family.
Join the Fire Network and colleagues from across California to learn more about the public health impacts of wildfire smoke, how to monitor Air Quality Index and interpret AQI measurements, and low-cost, effective ways to protect yourself during smoke events.
EVENT DETAILS
DATE: Sept. 4
TIME: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
REGISTRATION: https://ucanr.edu/smokewebinar (Register by Sept. 2)
For more information visit: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Home_430/Events/
By: Cordi Craig, Placer Resource Conservation District
Placer RCD is offering several workshops in preparation for the prescribed fire season of 2024/2025!
We’re excited to engage with you and we are offering a variety of events this season that reflect the needs of our communities!
If you’re interested in joining Placer Prescribed Burn Association and staying up to date on education events and training/demonstration burns, please contact Cordi Craig, Prescribed Fire Program Manager, at cordi@placerrcd.org.
Demonstration burns will be offered throughout the fall and winter season.
This workshop is free and will cover topics including permitting, liability, fire effects on native plants, heat management, landowner resources, and others. A panel of experienced instructors teach the course.
Date: Oct. 5
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Placer County Health & Human Services Center, 11434 B Ave. N. Auburn
Cost: FREE
Register Now
Details:
To date, Placer RCD has trained more than 700 participants through classroom workshops and demonstration burns.
This is our flagship workshop and we are only planning to host this workshop once or twice this season.
Learn about Rx Fire permitting, liability, fire effects on native plants, heat management, landowner resources, and more from a panel of experienced instructors.
Placer RCD received funding from CAL FIRE to develop a mechanism that increases the pace and scale of prescribed fire in the region.
In response, the RCD developed the Placer Prescribed Burn Association (Placer PBA) and associated education and training program.
Placer PBA is dedicated to equipping landowners with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to implement low-complexity prescribed burns.
Please be prepared with water and lunch for the day. Snacks and coffee will be provided by the RCD.
This 2-part virtual series will build off of one another. In Part I, we’ll discuss fuels, weather, and resources to use when developing your burn prescription. Part II will dive into writing a basic burn plan and navigating permit requirements for prescribed burning.
Some short pre-work videos will be sent to registrants to watch ahead of time.
Wednesday, October 9th: Part I: Fuels, Weather, and Resources to Plan a Burn
Wednesday, October 16th : Part II: Burn Planning and Navigating Permits
Time: 5:30 PM – 7 PM
Register for the series HERE
By: Cordi Craig, Placer Resource Conservation District
If you’re a community member in Alta, Dutch Flat, or Gold Run, join us for an Alta-specific outreach and education event on Saturday, October 26th!
Whether you are part of a Firewise community or just interested in prescribed fire, we’d love to talk with you.
We’ll discuss the benefits of prescribed burning, navigating liability and permitting, preparing units and mitigating hazards, and available community resources.
Placer PBA is focused on bringing safe, legal, and ecologically beneficial fire to our communities.
Placer RCD will provide some food, although the event will be potluck style and participants are encouraged to bring a dish to share.
Although registration is not required, signing up helps us have a general headcount for food.
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: TBD
Sign up here
Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council
The Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council announces strong efforts to assist new and existing Firewise Communities in Penryn and Newcastle while continuing to pursue efforts in the City of Auburn and in Bowman.
Please reach out to us using by email or phone. We are happy to connect!
The Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council promotes safe practices, defensible space, home hardening, through outreach and program development.
Learn more
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By: Jacqui Manning, Placer County Office of Emergency Services
A steady flow of Granite Bay residents passed through the Hidden Lakes Estates Fire Safety and First Responders Fair held near Gina Park, August 3.
Visitors were greeted by a wide array of family-friendly activities and community safety resources provided by local agencies and businesses.
Attendees were also treated to a car show featuring fire engines and an appearance by a classic 1959 Ford Galaxie police cruiser owned by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
The retro cruiser definitely looked cool, but PCSO Lieutenant (Lt.) Ty Conners from Placer Office of Emergency Management said it doesn’t feel as cool when you’re driving it.
“It’s got no real air conditioning in it,” he said, “it gets pretty hot.”
Lt. Conners was joined by Chief Ryan Woessner and others who addressed the gathered crowd - there was even an appearance from District 4 Supervisor Suzanne Jones!
HLE Safety Committee member, Shannon Moore, said the event was a great success, thanks to the efforts of HLE volunteers and the participation of agencies like Placer County OEM.
Firewise Community Spotlight
By: Jacqui Manning, Placer County Office of Emergency Servicesceholder text.
Each year, Monte Verde Estates in Foresthill, CA, engages a goat grazing company to help reduce wildfire risk in the community's shared areas. Over several weeks, the goats are strategically relocated using temporary pens as they navigate through the community.
The presence of the goats not only brings joy to residents of Monte Verde Estates but also to travelers along Foresthill Road.
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Welcome New Firewise Communities
In recent months, three communities have successfully applied for and received national recognition from the Firewise USA Program for their outstanding efforts in fire prevention and mitigation.
Congratulations to the Todd Valley: Glen Drive, Martiswoods, and Buckridge/Tiger Lily Road neighborhoods for this achievement.
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By: Jacqui Manning, Placer County Office of Emergency Services
In August, the Fire Safe Alliance meeting featured information presentations from four fire technology companies: Watch Duty, Alert CA, BurnBot, and GSI Biomass.
- Watch Duty offers a complimentary emergency alert application that provides real-time safety information for wildfires and is highly recommended by fire experts for its effectiveness in tracking developing situations and delivering reliable updates.
- Alert CA operates a network of AI-powered cameras for early wildfire detection, with over 1,000 cameras available for real-time monitoring of active fires.
- BurnBot is a technology-driven fuels treatment company focused on preventing destructive wildfires through the use of masticators, prescription fire machines, and wildland firefighters.
- GSI Biomass Conversion has developed a system that facilitates onsite biomass processing, allowing for quicker and more efficient processing.
The meeting was a joint meeting with the Wildfire and Forest Resiliency Coordination and was conducted in a hybrid format, allowing attendees to participate either in person or via Zoom.
There were 43 participants in total, with 29 joining remotely and 14 attending in person. Among the attendees, 13 unique agencies with a vested interest in wildfire management were represented, including members from Fire Safe Councils, local fire departments, and utility companies.
The presentations can be viewed on the Fire Safe Alliance website under the 'documents' section at: https://www.placer.ca.gov/5721/Fire-Safe-Alliance
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