Wildfire Season Is Starting Earlier. Here’s How the County Is Preparing

Fire season now starts about six weeks earlier than it did 30 years ago, according to county fire officials. The grass on the foothills turns brown by late May instead of July, and the first serious fires of the year now arrive while many families are still thinking about graduation parties rather than evacuation plans. This year, county officials are trying to meet the season early too, with a new set of tools that goes live this month.

The county has divided its foothill neighborhoods into 64 evacuation zones and mounted 18 cameras on ridgelines to spot smoke within minutes. A new text-alert system will tell residents, zone by zone, when to get ready and when to leave. Officials say the combination should give people more warning, and clearer instructions, than ever before.

Why the season keeps getting longer

Fire officials point to several factors. Warmer springs dry out grasses and brush sooner. Winter rains have become less predictable, sometimes producing a burst of growth that later becomes fuel. And more homes have been built in the wooded hills on the edge of town, where a single spark can reach a neighborhood quickly.

The county fire department’s own records show that the date of the first significant brush fire of the year has crept earlier over the decades. Officials cautioned that every year is different, and a wet spring can still delay the season. But they said planning for an early start is now simply prudent.

Sixty-four zones and a new map

Until this year, evacuation orders in the county were usually given by neighborhood name or by major streets. That worked in some places but caused confusion in others, especially where neighborhoods blend together or where residents did not know which name officials were using.

The new system divides the foothills into 64 numbered zones, each with clear boundaries drawn along roads, creeks and ridgelines. Every address in the area has been assigned a zone, and residents can look theirs up on the county’s emergency website or by calling a hotline.

Two levels of warning

Alerts will use two simple levels. A warning means residents in that zone should get ready to leave, gather pets and essentials and consider leaving early, especially if they need extra time. An order means leave now. Officials said they chose plain language on purpose, after surveys found that many residents were confused by terms used in the past.

Five minutes of warning can be the difference between packing a car and running.

Battalion Chief Carl Mitchell

Mitchell, who has fought fires in the county for 22 years, helped design the zone map. He said firefighters spent months driving every road in the foothills, checking which routes could handle evacuation traffic and where a single blocked road could trap residents.

Cameras on the ridgelines

The 18 new cameras sit on towers and rooftops along the highest points in the county. Each one rotates continuously and can zoom in on a column of smoke miles away. Images are sent to the county’s emergency dispatch center, where staff watch the feeds around the clock during fire season.

Software flags possible smoke automatically, but a person always confirms it before crews are sent. Officials said the cameras will not replace 911 calls from residents, which remain one of the fastest ways fires are reported. Instead, they add another set of eyes, especially at night and in remote areas where no one may be around to see the first wisp of smoke.

The cameras cost about $1.2 million in total, paid for through a state wildfire prevention grant and the county’s emergency services budget. Officials said the feeds will also be available to the public online, though with a short delay.

What residents can do

Sign up for text alerts, learn your zone, clear brush within 30 feet of your home and keep a go-bag by the door. Those four steps, fire officials said, are the most important things any household in the foothills can do before the season peaks.

Sign up and learn your zone

The text-alert system is free and works on any cell phone. Residents can sign up by texting their zip code to the county’s alert number or by registering online. People with family members who live in the foothills, including older parents, are encouraged to sign up for those addresses too.

Clear the first 30 feet

The area closest to a home matters most. Embers carried by the wind can travel long distances and ignite dry leaves, wood piles or brush right next to a house. Fire officials recommend:

• Removing dead plants, dry grass and fallen leaves within 30 feet of the house
• Cleaning gutters and roofs of pine needles and debris
• Moving firewood piles and propane tanks away from walls
• Trimming tree branches so they do not hang over the roof
• Choosing fire-resistant plants for beds close to the home

For larger properties, the county offers free home assessments in which a firefighter walks the property with the owner and points out the biggest risks. Residents can request one through the fire department’s website.

Pack a go-bag

A go-bag should be ready before anyone needs it. Officials suggest including copies of important documents, medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes, water, snacks, glasses and anything a pet will need. Keep it by the door or in the car during fire season.

Plan for everyone in the house

Fire officials urged families to think about anyone who may need extra help leaving quickly, including older relatives, people with disabilities, young children and residents without a car. Neighbors can agree to check on one another when a warning is issued. People who rely on medical equipment that needs power should talk with their doctor or supplier about a backup plan.

Pets and livestock need a plan too. The county fairgrounds will again serve as an emergency shelter for horses and other large animals, and several evacuation centers will accept pets in carriers. Officials suggested keeping carriers, leashes and a few days of food somewhere easy to reach during the summer months, and practicing loading animals before an emergency.

A season that starts now

Fire officials will hold community meetings in each of the foothill areas over the next three weeks to explain the new zones and answer questions. They plan to run a practice evacuation in two neighborhoods next month, with residents invited to take part and test their own plans.

County Supervisor Linda Okafor, whose district includes many of the new zones, said she hopes residents will treat the preparation the way they treat other seasonal chores. “We clean the gutters before winter and check the smoke detectors when the clocks change,” she said. “Now we know our zone and pack the go-bag before June.”

Key takeaway: With fire season starting earlier, the county is rolling out 64 evacuation zones, 18 ridgeline cameras and text alerts, and residents can help by signing up, learning their zone, clearing brush and packing a go-bag.

Mitchell said the new tools are only as good as the people who use them. The best camera in the world cannot help a family that does not know where to go. “We can give you the warning,” he said. “What you do in the next five minutes is up to you. Make the plan now, while it’s quiet.”