Fire agencies including Cal Fire gathered in Calabasas for Wildfire Preparedness Week event to demonstrate firefighting resources and share home hardening guidance with residents as peak fire season approaches.
Fire officials gathered in Calabasas Monday to mark Wildfire Preparedness Week, bringing together multiple agencies to highlight readiness efforts as peak fire season approaches.
The 10 a.m. event at King Gillette Ranch brought together Cal Fire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and a range of state, federal and local agencies to demonstrate firefighting aircraft and ground resources, according to MyNewsLA.com.
The briefing focused on encouraging residents to take an active role in wildfire preparedness. In California, wildfires are not a matter of if but when, according to Cal Fire. The agency shared a three-step wildfire preparation plan with attendees, emphasizing the need to harden homes and create defensible space.
Embers can be particularly destructive — capable of igniting homes up to a mile away, the fire agency says on its website. Cal Fire outlined key home-hardening steps, including using fire-resistant roofing materials such as asphalt, metal or tile, and sealing gaps and clearing debris from roofs and gutters.
The agency also recommended installing noncombustible metal screens on vents and chimneys, or upgrading to ember-resistant vent systems. Dual-pane windows with at least one tempered layer should be installed to reduce heat and ember entry, according to the guidance.
For exterior walls, ignition-resistant materials such as stucco or fiber cement are recommended. Decks, eaves and attached fences should be built with noncombustible materials, and garage doors should be sealed to prevent ember intrusion, the agency said.
Defensible space is crucial for home wildfire safety, according to Cal Fire. It creates a buffer zone between property and the surrounding wildland area.
The guidance divides defensible space into three zones:
Creating up to 100 feet of clearance, or to the property line, helps protect homes and gives firefighters a safer area to operate during a wildfire, the agency reported.
Cal Fire also emphasized fire-smart landscaping as another key layer of protection. Developing a fire-smart landscape involves choosing and placing fire-resistant plants that thrive in California's dry climate, according to the agency.
The guidance stressed that plant condition and placement are often more important than species alone. Well-watered, healthy plants are less flammable, while drought-stressed or dead vegetation can increase fire risk.
Plants high in oils or resins, as well as dense shrubs that can trap embers, should be placed farther from structures. The area within 5 feet of a home should be kept clear of combustible plants and materials to reduce ignition risk, according to Cal Fire.
Regular pruning, cleanup of fallen leaves and branches, and maintaining spacing between vegetation can help prevent fire from spreading, the agency said.
Officials told the event that proper landscaping, combined with defensible space and home hardening, can reduce the likelihood of a home igniting during a wildfire.
The briefing served as a reminder to Calabasas residents that wildfire preparedness is essential as fire season approaches in the region.
This article was generated with AI assistance.