May Is Wildfire Community Preparedness Month

Supervisor Pyska noted that 2025 marks 10 years since the devastating 2015 wildfires and thanked the community for “building a workforce, a strong network and for mitigating efforts. Each of us has made a difference.”

While fire, law and emergency management personnel work hard to prevent, prepare for and respond to fire incidents, each member of the community has a vital role. Be proactive: visit https://Ready.LakeCountyCA.gov and follow the 5 Steps to Prepare. Start by signing up for LakeCoAlerts and finding your evacuation zone.

Click here to read the proclamation.

Click here to watch the proclamation.

Five Steps to All-Hazards Preparedness can help every household get ready:

1. Get Alerts

2. Know Your Zone

3. Plan for Emergencies

4. Prepare Your Home

5. Connect with Neighbors

Explore topic-specific resources, including:

• Access and Functional Needs (for people with disabilities and caregivers)

• Animals (Pets & Livestock)

• Business Preparedness

• Severe Weather

• Preparing with Youth

Helpful videos cover creating an affordable Go Bag and preparing for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). To learn more about how to prepare, click here.

During an ongoing incident, visit the ‘Response’ tab at https://Ready.LakeCountyCA.gov for important, non-emergency updates, shelter information, damage reporting and more.

Plan for Emergencies. Emergencies are stressful, but planning ahead saves lives and reduces panic.

Plan to Go:

• Pack and maintain a go-bag for each household member. Include clothing, medications, non-perishable food, water and supplies to last 72 hours.

• Identify possible evacuation routes. Actual routes may vary depending on the incident. Know how to reach a main road or highway from home or work.

Get to know your neighbors. Create a communication plan and identify needs or unique situations (i.e. children home alone, transportation challenges, pets, work schedules, etc.) that would need to be addressed if an evacuation is ordered.

Defensible space is key to protecting your home from wildfire. Create three zones:

• Zone 0 (0–5 feet): Remove dead vegetation, debris and flammable materials; move wood piles to Zone 2.

• Zone 1 (5–30 feet): Clear dry plants, trim trees for branch spacing and relocate recreational items to Zone 2.

• Zone 2 (30–100 feet): Mow grass under 4 inches and maintain 10 feet of clearance around wood piles and propane tanks.

Lake County Fire Safe Council offers a free Mobile Tool Cache program with the tools and equipment residents need to complete fuels reduction work.

Click here for more.

Wildfire preparedness depends on the whole community.

Get involved: Join or establish a local Firewise Community (Firewise Communities – Lake County Fire Safe Council) and/or Fire Safe Council. Attend local area Town Halls or other community groups to strengthen readiness.

Volunteer: The Lake County Sheriff's Office, Search and Rescue and many area non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offer volunteer opportunities for varying skill sets. Some volunteers may be called upon to help prepare the community for disaster or respond during a disaster.

Every action—big or small—contributes to a safer, more resilient Lake County.

Lake County businesses can help spread the word! Download free, ready-to-use emergency preparedness graphics to display in storefronts, offices or break rooms. Designs are customizable—add your logo or a personal message to encourage customers, employees and the community to prepare.

Posters and web graphics are available for print or digital use at Outreach | Lake County, CA.

Your outreach can make a difference. Be part of a more prepared Lake County.