Protecting the people, property, and natural resources throughout Yolo County from wildfire. Welcome!
This site is dedicated to communication to Yolo County Fire Safe Council stakeholders and interested members of the public. Content is being managed by the Yolo County Resource Conservation District.
The September 2023 Newsletter is now live! Check out our newsletter for information on National Disaster Preparedness Month and steps to prepare your family!
https://conta.cc/3RNgT2H
National Disaster Preparedness Month September 2023 Newsletter: National Preparedness Month Dear reader, September is National Preparedness Month across the nation. This year's theme is Take Contro
September is Disaster Preparedness Month across the nation! This year’s theme is Take Control 1, 2, 3 which focuses on preparing older adults for natural hazards and disasters. Older adults can face greater risk to natural disasters when it comes to weather events, wildfires, and other extreme emergencies. This is especially true for older adults that are low-income, are living alone, have a disability, or live in rural areas. The first step to preparing for a natural disaster is knowing what disasters can impact your area.
In Yolo County, the western regions are prone to wildfire especially in the fall season due to dry vegetation, less reliable fall rains, and high wind events. Other hazards that can impact Yolo County are flooding and extreme heat. Swipe to see some ways to prepare for and withstand these hazards!
For older adults, be sure to create a safety plan that is easily accessible and review it often. Be sure to keep eyeglasses, hearing aids, keys, and phone within reach during a potentially hazardous event. Always practice evacuation routes and ask your emergency providers to keep your special needs on file. Check in with neighbors about safety plans to create a support network!
Yesterday, our Chipper Crew visited seven properties throughout the Capay Valley and in West Winters for a full day of chipping! Since the program launched in June 2022, the Chipper Crew has visited 38 properties and chipped over 70 piles of debris from defensible space and hazardous fuels reduction work. The Neighborhood Chipper Program hosts monthly Chipper Days throughout the Capay Valley and in Western Winters free of charge to folks living in the high fire areas of Yolo County.
To take advantage of the program, Yolo County residents should preform hazardous fuels work like limbing trees, thinning woody brush, and eliminating ladder fuels. Be sure to stack piles in an easily accessible spot on the property and submit a request to our Neighborhood Chipper Program on our website at: www.tinyurl.com/ycfscchipper
During our next Chipper Day, the Chipper Crew will visit your property, chip the debris, and leave the chips on the property to use as mulch in a firesafe zone on the property.
Thanks to the hard work of our Chipper Crew from the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District! Their hard work helps build wildfire resilience to protect homes, residents, and the natural resources of our county!
The Air Quality Index for Yolo County is unhealthy for sensitive groups due to north winds bringing wildfire smoke into the Sacramento Valley. Sensitive groups, like children, teens, and folks with heart or lung disease, should avoid strenuous outdoor activities and consider wearing well-fitting N95 respirator masks if outdoors for long periods. Everyone else should consider modifying outdoor activity to be less strenuous or avoid outdoor activities until air quality improves.
Tomorrow’s (August 31st) AQI is expected to be moderate and will continue to improve into the weekend.
Check your city's AQI by visiting: www.airnow.gov
FIRE WEATHER WARNING ISSUED FOR YOLO COUNTY: A red flag warning has been issued for all of Yolo County (and North Central California) with possible Public Safety Power Shutoffs impacting residents in the Capay Valley. The fire weather warning is in place from 11 PM August 29th to 11 PM August 30th. A fire weather warning is issued when high temperatures, gusty winds, and low humidity is forecasted. The red flag warning was issued due to forecasted temperatures of ~100 degrees across the county, wind gusts of 15 to 30 mph and humidity falling into the teens. To prevent wildfire during this time, avoid burning including grilling, avoid mowing or using other equipment that could spark, keep tailpipes out of tall grass, and dispose of ci******es properly.
To prepare for public safety shutoffs:
Review your evacuation routes and safety plans
Keep devices charged and be sure to pay attention to emergency alerts
Build or restock your emergency supply kit with plenty of water, flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies
Prep go-bags for every member of your family in the event of a wildfire and prepare for possible evacuation
Fill water for livestock
Check your backup generator and purchase extra gas
Yolo County RCD has partnered with NRCS through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to provide technical assistance and cost-share funding to implement projects on private land that will build wildfire resilience in Yolo County's oak woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands.
The program aims to manage vegetation to lower fire intensity, reduce extreme wildfire behavior, and maintain forest carbon storage. Eligible conservation practices available for cost-share funding include prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, herbaceous w**d treatment, brush management, fuel breaks, and more.
Interested landowners should visit the webpage linked below for more information and get in touch with RCD staff (Alli Permann at [email protected]) to discuss stewardship objectives and schedule a site visit of your property.
yolofiresafe.org/get-prepared/our-programs/building-shrubland-and-grassland-resilience/
The recording for the Yolo County Fire Safe Council's August Meeting is available on the RCD’s YouTube page (link below). The August Meeting largely featured discussions for the list of priority projects outlined for the Early Action funding that was recently re-allocated by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors to Yolo County RCD. Fire Safe Council members provided input and signed up for planning teams for the projects.
The meeting continued with usual reports from Yolo County Office of Emergency Services, Yolo County RCD, and the community Fire Safe Councils. Notably, the RCD announced the availability of cost-share funding through NRCS for wildfire resilience projects like fuels management on private lands. For more information on this program, visit our website at https://yolofiresafe.org/building-shrubland-and-grassland-resilience
If you missed the Yolo County Fire Safe Council’s July Meeting that featured a presentation and Q&A from the California Department of Insurance, Napa Firewise is hosting an insurance webinar on August 30th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Register on their website at https://napafirewise.org/event/insurance-webinar
August Meeting recording: https://youtu.be/Un4DBNa4MqQ?si=WMuBQvxf5nu5hO5P
It’s and we’re highlight Cobweb thistle (Cirsium occidentale), a fire follower that is native to Yolo County and a member of the sunflower family. Fire followers are specialized plant species that respond to environmental cues following a wildfire. These cues, like charred soil, smoke, or increased sunlight, signal to fire follower plants to begin their growth cycle either right away or with the first rains. Not all thistles are bad! This native thistle can be distinguished from other w**dy, invasive thistles due to the whitish-gray leaves and stems.
Cobweb thistle will flower from March to July and is insect pollinated attracting bees, beetles, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Painted lady butterflies particularly favor this native plant. The plant only blooms once, generally in the second year of growth and then dies. Cobweb thistle gets its name from the silky hairs on the seeds that form a web-like structure and that disperse in the wind.
The August Fire Safe Council Newsletter is now live! Click the link below to read about new cost-share funding for fuels management on private lands, FSC programs update, information on new funding for CWPP projects, and a recording of the California Department of Insurance presentation from last month's meeting.
Don’t forget that our next Yolo County Fire Safe Council meeting is TOMORROW, Wednesday 23rd at 4 PM. Zoom link is in our bio or the FSC events calendar on our website. The meeting will focus on reviewing priority projects and ranking them for implementation of Early Action Funding recently allocated to the Yolo County Fire Safe Council.
https://conta.cc/3OJDmuk
In late 2022 and early 2023, the Yolo County Fire Safe Council completed the Yolo County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) which was accepted and signed by CAL FIRE in April 2023. Swipe to learn more about CWPPs and to see a few of the highest priority projects that will be implemented soon!
To implement these projects, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors reallocated $800,000 Fire Preparedness Early Action Funding that was previously earmarked for a feasibility study of a siren system along the Yolo and Solano County line. The siren system is not feasible and the funding has been reallocated to the Yolo County Fire Safe Council to implement priority projects outlined in the Yolo County CWPP. The Yolo County RCD will manage priority project implementation. The list of projects includes fuels reduction along Highway 16 and Highway 128, the creation of strategic fuel breaks, and continued funding for the Neighborhood Chipper Program. Addtionally, we're excited to announce a $450,000 grant award from CAL FIRE's Wildfire Prevention Grant Program to help plan and implement priority projects outlined in the Yolo County CWPP throughout the high fire areas of Western Yolo County.
As we move through August and summer comes to a close, we may start to feel like the threat of wildfire is behind us. The slower start to fire season this year is thanks to a wet winter and milder early summer temperatures. Despite these conditions, CAL FIRE has responded to over 4,000 wildfires that have burned over 112,000 acres.
With hot temperatures continuing in the foreseeable future, vegetation will continue to dry out and become hazardous fuels for wildfire. It’s still important to remain vigilant in preventing wildfire especially within the wildland urban interface. Swipe to see some tips for staying wildfire safe this late summer and fall seasons.
Have you taken advantage of the YCFSC Neighborhood Chipper Program? If you live in western Yolo County (west of Winters, Esparto, and communities throughout the Capay Valley), then you qualify for FREE chipping for debris from hazardous fuels reduction and defensible space work. Our next Chipper Day is tentatively scheduled for the week of August 21st!
To take advantage of this program, residents should preform fuels reduction work, stack their piles with cut ends of the vegetation facing the same direction, and fill out the Chipper Program Request Form on our website. To access the form, visit our website (www.yolofiresafe.org/chipper-program) or visit www.tinyurl.com/ycfscchipper.
Stay alert and be fire safe this weekend! To learn more about how to prevent wildfire this summer season, visit readyforwildfire.org/one-less-spark-campaign.
Periods of elevated fire danger will occur this weekend through most of next week, due to moderate to enhanced breezes & further drying of dry dead fuels.
Summer in California = wildfire risk. We urge for public awareness & prevention. Learn more at readyforwildfire.org.
Yesterday and this morning, our Chipper Crew from Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District braved the heat to chip hazardous fuel debris in Rumsey and Winters. Thanks to the Yolo County residents that performed hazardous fuels reduction work and a big thank you to the Chipper Crew for their hard work in helping our residents better prepare for and prevent wildfire.
Do you live in the high fire areas of Western Yolo County? As the summer heats up and vegetation dries out, now is the time to manage vegetation by pruning ladder fuels and preparing defensible space around your home. This program is offered for FREE to folks living in the high fire areas of Yolo County in communities throughout the Capay Valley and neighborhoods west of Winters and Esparto.
To learn more, visit our Neighborhood Chipper Program page on our website at www.yolofiresafe.org/chipper-program and fill out the Chipper Request Form. Sign up now to be added to next month’s Chipper Day!
The July 2023 Yolo County Fire Safe Council Newsletter is out now! This month’s edition is all about preventing wildfire – how will you prevent wildfire this summer and fall seasons? We’ve got a few tips to help! Click the link below to read this month’s newsletter.
https://conta.cc/46KOJu1
Yolo County Fire Safe Council continues to offer FREE reflective address signs to folks living in the high fire areas of Yolo County. Properties west of Winters and Esparto and communities throughout the Capay Valley qualify for free reflective address signs that help emergency officials find your home day or night and even in smoky and poor conditions.
Have you requested your reflective address sign yet? It’s as easy as visiting our website at yolofiresafe.org/reflective-address-signs or by accessing the request form directly by visiting www.tinyurl.com/reflecttodetect
For questions or assistance with the form, please reach out to Alli Permann, RCD Outreach Coordinator, at [email protected] or call (530) 661-1688.
Is every member of your household prepared for wildfire season? Pets are important members of our families, but can be forgotten when it comes to the impacts of wildfire season, like extreme heat, poor air quality, and evacuations. Swipe to see a few ways to prepare your pet before or during these events!
During extreme heat or wildfire smoke, pets should be inside the home in clean air and cool spaces to prevent overheating or smoke inhalation. During periods of high temps or poor air quality, avoid intense exercise outdoors and be sure animals have access to clean water and shade. For livestock or large animals, it may not be possible to bring animals indoors away from heat or smoke. In that case, it’s vital to limit dust and avoid intense exercise or movement whenever possible.
In the event of an evacuation, consult evacuation checklists for pets and livestock. Plan ahead for evacuation by preparing a go-bag for each pet and pre-arranging a drop off location. For livestock, be sure stock trailers are in good condition and vehicles are ready to tow trailers. Make sure you share your evacuation plans with neighbors in the event you aren’t home during a wildfire. For livestock that can’t be evacuated, don’t leave animals chained or restrained, but instead leave them in large and defendable pastures. Be aware that firefighters may cut wires or open fences to let animals free during a wildfire.
It’s wildfire season – whether you live in the high fire areas of Western Yolo County or in the city centers of Woodland, Davis, or West Sacramento, preparing for smoke from wildfires is essential to safeguard your health. Pollutants from wildfires range from cancer-causing substances to tiny particles that can aggravate existing respiratory and health conditions. The biggest concern from smoke is particulate matter (PM) that can get deep into the lungs and bloodstream even with only short-term exposure. Particles can be as small as 2.5 microns (also known as PM2.5) which is smaller than a strand of hair.
Swipe to see steps to protect yourself from wildfire smoke! The best protection against smoke and PM2.5 is creating a clean air zone in your home and properly wearing an N95 respirator masks when going outdoors. Close windows and doors and ensure that any air conditioning systems are set to recirculate and have new filters.
Be sure to check your air filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). Air filters with a MERV-13 rating or higher means the filter will capture less than 75% of air particles that are 0.3-1.0 microns in size. HEPA filters remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, bacteria, and other air particles with a size of 0.3 microns. If your system’s fan and filter slot cannot accommodate an air filter with a rating of MERV-13 or higher, consider investing in an air purifier. The California Air Resources Board has a list of approved air cleaners that are safe and effective (click the link below to view).
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/list-carb-certified-air-cleaning-devices
Informational meeting TONIGHT 6:30 pm at the Guinda Grange Hall about this Benefit Assessment Ballot. We encourage everybody to come out and ask questions, and more importantly to VOTE when the ballot arrives in the mail!
The June 2023 Yolo County Fire Safe Council meeting is cancelled due to a light agenda. The next meeting will be the regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 from 4 PM to 5 PM via Zoom.
During the May monthly meeting, Yolo County OES and Yolo County RCD announced that Early Action Funding that was previously set aside for siren and alerting system would be re-allocated to Yolo County RCD to fund implementation of priority projects outlined in the Yolo County CWPP. The funding reallocation is on the Yolo County Board of Supervisor’s consent agenda for approval. Priority projects and next steps will be discussed at the July 2023 Yolo County Fire Safe Council meeting!
As we gear up for Independence Day in Yolo County, it's crucial to be aware of the potential risks associated with fireworks and prioritize safety above all else. Local officials want to ensure that your celebrations are not only enjoyable but also safe for everyone involved. Learn how to celebrate safely and report illegal fireworks here ➡️ https://www.yolocounty.org/Home/Components/News/News/13359/4918
After another wet winter and above average snowpack, warming temperatures and winds are quickly drying out the abundant annual grass crop. The increasing fire danger posed by the high volume of dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region is prompting CAL FIRE to suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Areas of Colusa, Napa, Solano and Yolo County. Read more here ➡️ www.yolocounty.org/Home/Components/News/News/13354/4918 #!/
How are you planning to have a firesafe Fourth of July? The State of California has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal fireworks which are any that propel into the sky and are larger than ten inches in length or one-quarter inch in diameter. When you’re purchasing fireworks this holiday, be sure you are buying “Safe and Sane” fireworks from a reputable seller. Instead of purchasing your own fireworks, consider attending local firework shows like ones in Winters, West Sacramento, Woodland, and Davis.
A few tips on how to be firesafe this Independence Day:
🎆 Always use fireworks outdoors and designate a safety zone free of debris, overhanging limbs, and other ignitable objects.
🎆 Always have a hose, bucket of water, or fire extinguisher in case of accidents.
🎆 Read directions, always have an adult present, and be sure to light one firework at a time.
🎆 Never attempt to re-light fireworks or fix faulty fireworks.
🎆 Refrain from wearing loose fitting clothing while lighting fireworks and don’t place any part of your body directly over a firework while lighting a fuse.
🎆 Don’t forget about your pets- keep pets inside in a quiet area!
Even safe and sane fireworks impact air quality which can be harmful to sensitive groups. Consider opting for safe alternatives like party poppers, bubbles, silly string, and glow sticks.
Understanding the fire history of our region helps us recognize where fire hazards occur, which species around us are fire dependent/fire sensitive, and how we can better prepare for the next wildfire. For a more comprehensive list of fires over the years, visit the Yolo County Living with Wildfire website (link below) and visit the Fire History tab on the Yolo County Community Base Map. In Yolo County, a majority of its largest wildfires have occurred since 2000.
Over the last century, Yolo County has seen repeated fire in the western region of the county; west of Winters and the Capay Valley. These areas are where Yolo County’s wildland urban interface occurs; where wildland meets human development. The wildlands in western Yolo County consist of grasslands and chapparal, ecosystems that are fire dependent. Although fire can benefit an ecosystem by clearing understory and creating a patchwork of vegetation types, too much fire can negatively impact ecosystem regeneration. Fires in the wildland-urban interface often have human causes such as sparks from equipment use, arson, vehicle tailpipes, and campfires.
Do you live in the wildland urban interface of Yolo County? Be prepared for the next wildfire by taking advantage of our programs!
https://yolo-wildfire-1-ycrcd3.hub.arcgis.com/apps/cfff4d77bcfa4399acfc13f6aedea406/explore
Happy Healthy Soils Week! An understated foundation for sustainable food, water, air and biodiversity, healthy soils are incredibly beneficial to everything from agriculture to fighting climate change. So, how do wildfires affect soils? Fire can impact soils directly or indirectly. Direct impacts come from a fire’s heat and the combustion of the soil; particularly soil organic matter. Indirect impacts of fire result in changes to vegetation cover and subsequent erosion. The impact to soil health depends on the severity of a wildfire.
Low severity fires, like prescribed burns, can recycle nutrients back into the soil and improve soil productivity (when applied correctly under proper conditions). Swipe our post to see how very severe fires can impact soils!
Post-fire measures to help regenerate soils aside from revegetation are applying mulch or straw to mitigate erosion and applying compost to limit soil and contaminant loss while improving soils physical, chemical, and biological properties.
Did you know the leading cause of fires in residential areas is cooking? Kitchen safety is important to preventing fire. Be sure you never leave the stove unattended, handles are turned toward the back of the stove, and you keep all cooking equipment clean. Swipe to see other ways you can stay fire safe in urban/residential settings.
A higher proportion of residential structure fires happen in apartment complexes and multifamily homes. If you’re an apartment dweller, be sure your smoke detectors are working, you have an escape route planned, and you stay calm in the event of a fire.
Have you taken advantage of our FREE wildfire programs? Check them out at the link below!
https://yolorcd.org/what-we-do/yolo-county-fire-safe-council/
Join us for a virtual Community Wildfire Planning Workshop on December 8th at 6 PM on Zoom! We’re hosting a virtual workshop meeting for Yolo County residents to provide input to the Yolo County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
A CWPP is collaborative plan developed to help communities reduce wildfire risk and create fire-adapted communities. All CWPPs are required to have priority fuel reduction projects, plans to address structure ignitability, and community collaboration. A CWPP is an excellent way for community members living in Yolo County to influence how and where fuels reduction projects occur as well as help guide wildfire risk reduction priorities.
During the meeting, we will look at maps of Yolo County (with focus on the high fire areas of Western Yolo County) to identify community values and assets, hazardous areas, and potential projects to protect assets and reduce wildfire hazards. Any Yolo County resident interested in attending this virtual workshop is encouraged to pre-register (by December 6th) through Zoom by visiting www.tinyurl.com/CWPPvirtual. For more information, visit the link below.
https://yolorcd.org/community-wildfire-protection-planning-virtual-workshop-december-8th/
Did you know that Yolo County residents have access to PulsePoint? This lifesaving app was designed to provide alerts about local emergencies such as wildland fires, flooding, utility emergencies, and even sudden cardiac emergencies in your area. Designed to connect everyday CPR trained citizens with sudden cardiac arrest emergencies, PulsePoint easily alerts trained individuals within a 1/4 mile of a cardiac arrest incident to give the option to provide assistance until emergency officials arrive on scene. Effective bystander CPR along with use of an AED can double or triple a person’s survival.
Not just helpful during a cardiac arrest incident, the app alerts citizens for other emergencies and allows users to monitor a situation. PulsePoint provides access to Yolo County Emergency Medical Services Dispatch allowing citizens to listen when an emergency is taking place. Download PulsePoint today to get access to this useful tool, today! To learn more about PulsePoint, check out the guide that Capay Valley Emergency Response Auxiliary/ Fire Safe Council created with in-depth steps on how to use the app at the link below.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Z22AXP3iuHm6mI9bZqte9lQOqMj_dxjk3OXMGM1ODr4/edit?usp=sharing
When purchasing costumes – including wigs and accessories – be sure to check the label to ensure it is made of flame-retardant material and reads flame resistant. Learn more Halloween safety tips athttps://www.fire.ca.gov/media/d1pkv101/halloween2021.pdf
It’s still National Fire Prevention Week and YCFSC is here to encourage you to have a fire safe Halloween this October! Don’t be haunted by fire, keep these steps in mind when prepping for the spooky season.
1: Keep candles and jack-o-lanterns out of the path of children and out of areas where people can brush up against the flame. Use lights instead of candles whenever possible.
2: Avoid baggy costumes and make sure costumes are made of fire resistant materials.
3: Dried decor like corn stalks, flowers, and crepe paper catch fire easily so be sure to keep them away from candles and other hot objects.
4: Make sure evacuation routes are not blocked or obstructed by decorations including windows!
5: In the event you have a fire inside or outside the home, be sure to completely extinguish the fire and never leave it unattended. Campfires should be at least 25 feet away from any structure with no overhanging branches.
Did you know that October 9th through October 15th is Fire Prevention Week? This year marks 100 years of hosted by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). This year’s theme is “Fire won’t wait, plan your escape!” Although our work at the Yolo County Fire Safe Council focuses on wildfire prevention, preparedness, and resiliency, we know in-home fire safety is an important component to protect our communities. Check out our post on in-home fire prevention tips and safety strategies adapted from www.fpw.org or visit NFPA’s website to learn more about !
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