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California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed the week of May 5 as Wildfire Preparedness Week in the state.While the peak of wildfire activity tends to be in the late summer to fall seasons, state officials for years now have stated that wildfires can happen at any point in the year. And while Californians are no strangers to wildfires, the state wants to raise awareness of ways you can stay safe.This guide provides links to our wildfire coverage with information on what to know before and during a fire.| VIDEO BELOW | KCRA 3 Wildfire Ready Special: What you can do to stay safeOne thing you can do right now is to download our news app to get the latest push notifications on wildfires and time-sensitive safety information. You can also follow us on social media, as we livestream much of our aerial fire coverage from LiveCopter 3.Here’s what you should know:WHERE TO FIND COUNTY EVACUATION INFO AND HOW TO SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTSHere is a county-by-county resources list for KCRA 3’s coverage area to help you find important information and updates in the event of a wildfire in Northern California. This guide includes links to the websites for county offices of emergency services and law enforcement and fire agencies. It also includes where to sign up for county emergency alert notifications now and find maps that counties will use to share evacuation updates during fires.WILDFIRES NEAR METhose who live in wildfire-prone areas should sign up for Cal Fire alerts to know immediately if one sparks nearby (here is information on where to sign up for local alerts). Residents can also access wildfire maps to stay in the know about wildfires in the area.Fire maps from government agencies:Cal Fire Active Fires of InterestFederal Incident Information SystemWHAT TO DO WHEN UNDER EVACUATION WARNINGSSome California residents may see their homes and neighborhoods under an evacuation warning this fire season.Although no one wants to find themselves and their families in this position, it’s important to be prepared and have a plan ahead of time in case wildfire behavior becomes life-threatening.Cal Fire will send you information if there is a wildfire near you. Sign up for those alerts here.| MORE | Here are some of the steps you should take once a warning has been issued — for both inside and outside your house.In addition to that, Cal Fire also recommends remembering “The Six Ps:”People and petsPapers, phone numbers and important documentsPrescriptions, vitamins and eyeglassesPictures and irreplaceable memorabiliaPersonal computer hard drive and disks”Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash| MORE | When to evacuate a wildfire? Cal Fire chief’s advice to help protect you and emergency crewsHOME HARDENING TIPSThere are different ways your home can be damaged by wildfire: Direct flames from a wildfire or a neighbor’s burning home, radiant heat from nearby burning plants or structures and flying embers. Cal Fire says embers are responsible for most destruction to homes during a wildfire.With that in mind, it’s important that Californians, particularly those who live in wildfire-prone areas, take precautions to harden their homes.Some of those precautions include protecting your roof, covering vents to prevent embers, and maintaining driveways and access to roads.A Northern California company called Home Hardening Solutions specializes in what its name implies. They are based in Grass Valley and help homeowners by reviewing properties, spotting fire-vulnerable areas, offering a plan of action, and fixing areas in need.| MORE | California fire experts recommend fire retardant to help protect homes| MORE | Preparing for California wildfires: What to know about hardening your home| MORE | Cal Fire Q&A: How to keep your family safe and home protected this fire season| MORE | Snow guns, beer and diapers: Do unusual wildfire protection strategies really work?WHAT DO I PUT IN MY GO BAGS?California officials recommend keeping an emergency supply kit ready in case of a wildfire, earthquake or another disaster.Cal Fire recommends that you store the kit of essentials in a backpack and also have a three-day supply of food and water ready to go in a tub or chest on wheels. Don’t forget baby formula if you need it, and food and water for your pets.In case of an evacuation at night, it’s also good to have a pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed.| RELATED | 5 quick and easy tips to prepare for a wildfire| MORE | Here’s more information on what exactly you should be putting into your emergency supply kits.| MORE | You had to evacuate from a wildfire, what’s next? American Red Cross has this adviceUNDERSTANDING WHAT FIRE TERMS MEANFlare-ups? Containment? Evacuation warnings versus evacuation orders? The best starting point in protecting your family against wildfires is understanding what some of these commonly-used terms really mean. Find a full list in the link below:| MORE | Evacuation warnings vs. orders, forward progress and acreage: California wildfire terms to know| MORE | Understanding wildfire warnings: How to know when to be alert during fire season| MORE | Why north winds are so dangerous during California wildfire seasonsHOW CONTAINMENT PLAYS A ROLE IN FIGHTING A FIRECalifornians are by now familiar with how vicious wildfires have become. Fires are not only burning hotter, but they are spreading quicker as well.So how do people know when fire crews gain the upper hand in putting out a wildfire? Generally, people will pay attention to two numbers: acreage and containment.Acreage measures not the current size of the fire, but how many acres it has burned. Then there’s containment. Some people might turn to containment and view 100% as meaning the fire is out.That would be incorrect.Here’s an explainer of how fire officials use containment when determining where they’re at in extinguishing wildfires. WHAT IS CALIFORNIA’S FAIR PLAN?The California FAIR Plan is a type of wildfire insurance for people who are not able to find other insurance due to their home’s fire risk.Typically, the FAIR Plan is much more expensive than regular wildfire insurance and should be used only as a last resort.”The FAIR Plan ultimately is intended to be a short-term solution for the marketplace. It is more expensive because the majority of the risks, are more risky,” said Phil Irwin, public relations representative for the California FAIR Plan.Read more about the California FAIR Plan here.| VIDEO BELOW | What to know about homeowner insurance companies dropping CaliforniansHOW TO TRACK AIR QUALITYKnowing the expected levels of air quality conditions where you are can help you plan and make the best possible decisions for you and your family during wildfire season.If you want to focus on smoke pollution specifically, PurpleAir makes a home device. But you don’t have to purchase one in order to take advantage of air quality data from PurpleAir.The company makes real-time air quality measurements from existing devices available on its website. There are plenty of these monitors throughout Northern California.The KCRA 3 weather team often uses these maps to track impacts from smoke plumes from large wildfires.Another free air quality tracking tool comes straight from the EPA itself. Apple and Android users can download the AirNow app for real-time air quality observations from hundreds of stations throughout the United States.ANOTHER WAY TO TRACK WILDFIRESA smartphone app that surged in relevancy during the Mosquito Fire in 2022 has become an easy way to track wildfires across California.John Clarke Mills, co-founder and CEO of Watch Duty said the app relies on information from a team of people who have been listening to fire and police scanner radio transmissions for years in California.Here’s how Watch Duty explains its mission on its website: “When a wildfire ignites we are automatically notified and start gathering information from a wide variety of public sources including local, state, and federal fire frequencies, satellite and infrared flight data, fixed and aerial imagery, and more.”The Watch Duty team then works to validate, organize and share that information as early as possible.Mills stressed that the app should not be considered a substitute for emergency alert systems like Nixle.Ready the full story here.KCRA 3’S FIRE THREAT INDEXKCRA 3 meteorologists have developed an index to track the daily risk of wildfires in parts of Northern California.The index takes into account fuel moisture, wind and humidity levels to rate the possible fire danger, from low to extreme.See below for a four-day risk level in KCRA 3’s coverage area for the Valley, coastal regions, the Foothills and the Sierra.MORE WILDFIRE RESOURCESCal FireU.S. Forest ServiceFEMAReady.GovDisasterAssistance.govCal OES Emergency Preparedness Page| GET THE KCRA 3 APP FOR THE LATEST ALERTS | Apple iOS | Android |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed the week of May 5 as Wildfire Preparedness Week in the state.
While the peak of wildfire activity tends to be in the late summer to fall seasons, state officials for years now have stated that wildfires can happen at any point in the year. And while Californians are no strangers to wildfires, the state wants to raise awareness of ways you can stay safe.
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This guide provides links to our wildfire coverage with information on what to know before and during a fire.
| VIDEO BELOW | KCRA 3 Wildfire Ready Special: What you can do to stay safe
One thing you can do right now is to download our news app to get the latest push notifications on wildfires and time-sensitive safety information. You can also follow us on social media, as we livestream much of our aerial fire coverage from LiveCopter 3.
Here’s what you should know:
WHERE TO FIND COUNTY EVACUATION INFO AND HOW TO SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS
Here is a county-by-county resources list for KCRA 3’s coverage area to help you find important information and updates in the event of a wildfire in Northern California. This guide includes links to the websites for county offices of emergency services and law enforcement and fire agencies. It also includes where to sign up for county emergency alert notifications now and find maps that counties will use to share evacuation updates during fires.
WILDFIRES NEAR ME
Those who live in wildfire-prone areas should sign up for Cal Fire alerts to know immediately if one sparks nearby (here is information on where to sign up for local alerts). Residents can also access wildfire maps to stay in the know about wildfires in the area.
Fire maps from government agencies:
WHAT TO DO WHEN UNDER EVACUATION WARNINGS
Some California residents may see their homes and neighborhoods under an evacuation warning this fire season.
Although no one wants to find themselves and their families in this position, it’s important to be prepared and have a plan ahead of time in case wildfire behavior becomes life-threatening.
Cal Fire will send you information if there is a wildfire near you. Sign up for those alerts here.
In addition to that, Cal Fire also recommends remembering “The Six Ps:”
People and petsPapers, phone numbers and important documentsPrescriptions, vitamins and eyeglassesPictures and irreplaceable memorabiliaPersonal computer hard drive and disks”Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash
| MORE | When to evacuate a wildfire? Cal Fire chief’s advice to help protect you and emergency crews
HOME HARDENING TIPS
There are different ways your home can be damaged by wildfire: Direct flames from a wildfire or a neighbor’s burning home, radiant heat from nearby burning plants or structures and flying embers. Cal Fire says embers are responsible for most destruction to homes during a wildfire.
With that in mind, it’s important that Californians, particularly those who live in wildfire-prone areas, take precautions to harden their homes.
Some of those precautions include protecting your roof, covering vents to prevent embers, and maintaining driveways and access to roads.
A Northern California company called Home Hardening Solutions specializes in what its name implies. They are based in Grass Valley and help homeowners by reviewing properties, spotting fire-vulnerable areas, offering a plan of action, and fixing areas in need.
| MORE | California fire experts recommend fire retardant to help protect homes
| MORE | Preparing for California wildfires: What to know about hardening your home
| MORE | Cal Fire Q&A: How to keep your family safe and home protected this fire season
| MORE | Snow guns, beer and diapers: Do unusual wildfire protection strategies really work?
WHAT DO I PUT IN MY GO BAGS?
California officials recommend keeping an emergency supply kit ready in case of a wildfire, earthquake or another disaster.
Cal Fire recommends that you store the kit of essentials in a backpack and also have a three-day supply of food and water ready to go in a tub or chest on wheels. Don’t forget baby formula if you need it, and food and water for your pets.
In case of an evacuation at night, it’s also good to have a pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed.
| RELATED | 5 quick and easy tips to prepare for a wildfire
| MORE | Here’s more information on what exactly you should be putting into your emergency supply kits.
| MORE | You had to evacuate from a wildfire, what’s next? American Red Cross has this advice
UNDERSTANDING WHAT FIRE TERMS MEAN
Flare-ups? Containment? Evacuation warnings versus evacuation orders? The best starting point in protecting your family against wildfires is understanding what some of these commonly-used terms really mean. Find a full list in the link below:
| MORE | Evacuation warnings vs. orders, forward progress and acreage: California wildfire terms to know
| MORE | Understanding wildfire warnings: How to know when to be alert during fire season
| MORE | Why north winds are so dangerous during California wildfire seasons
HOW CONTAINMENT PLAYS A ROLE IN FIGHTING A FIRE
Californians are by now familiar with how vicious wildfires have become. Fires are not only burning hotter, but they are spreading quicker as well.
So how do people know when fire crews gain the upper hand in putting out a wildfire? Generally, people will pay attention to two numbers: acreage and containment.
Acreage measures not the current size of the fire, but how many acres it has burned. Then there’s containment. Some people might turn to containment and view 100% as meaning the fire is out.
That would be incorrect.
WHAT IS CALIFORNIA’S FAIR PLAN?
The California FAIR Plan is a type of wildfire insurance for people who are not able to find other insurance due to their home’s fire risk.
Typically, the FAIR Plan is much more expensive than regular wildfire insurance and should be used only as a last resort.
“The FAIR Plan ultimately is intended to be a short-term solution for the marketplace. It is more expensive because the majority of the risks, are more risky,” said Phil Irwin, public relations representative for the California FAIR Plan.
Read more about the California FAIR Plan here.
| VIDEO BELOW | What to know about homeowner insurance companies dropping Californians
HOW TO TRACK AIR QUALITY
Knowing the expected levels of air quality conditions where you are can help you plan and make the best possible decisions for you and your family during wildfire season.
If you want to focus on smoke pollution specifically, PurpleAir makes a home device. But you don’t have to purchase one in order to take advantage of air quality data from PurpleAir.
The company makes real-time air quality measurements from existing devices available on its website. There are plenty of these monitors throughout Northern California.
The KCRA 3 weather team often uses these maps to track impacts from smoke plumes from large wildfires.
Another free air quality tracking tool comes straight from the EPA itself. Apple and Android users can download the AirNow app for real-time air quality observations from hundreds of stations throughout the United States.
ANOTHER WAY TO TRACK WILDFIRES
A smartphone app that surged in relevancy during the Mosquito Fire in 2022 has become an easy way to track wildfires across California.
John Clarke Mills, co-founder and CEO of Watch Duty said the app relies on information from a team of people who have been listening to fire and police scanner radio transmissions for years in California.
Here’s how Watch Duty explains its mission on its website: “When a wildfire ignites we are automatically notified and start gathering information from a wide variety of public sources including local, state, and federal fire frequencies, satellite and infrared flight data, fixed and aerial imagery, and more.”
The Watch Duty team then works to validate, organize and share that information as early as possible.
Mills stressed that the app should not be considered a substitute for emergency alert systems like Nixle.
KCRA 3’S FIRE THREAT INDEX
KCRA 3 meteorologists have developed an index to track the daily risk of wildfires in parts of Northern California.
The index takes into account fuel moisture, wind and humidity levels to rate the possible fire danger, from low to extreme.
See below for a four-day risk level in KCRA 3’s coverage area for the Valley, coastal regions, the Foothills and the Sierra.
MORE WILDFIRE RESOURCES
| GET THE KCRA 3 APP FOR THE LATEST ALERTS | Apple iOS | Android |
(source)