Preparing for Wildfire Season in Santa Cruz County

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Santa Cruz - your go-to company for fire restoration

As the hot summer months approach quickly, many Santa Cruz County residences may feel anxiety surrounding the possibilities of another Wildfire season. The aftermath of the 2020 CZU Wildfires is still very fresh for much of our community and the fear of the continued dry conditions leading to more fires in the area is very real. It is always a good idea to stay prepared and understand the steps to keep safe for these possible disasters.

If your area is prone to wildfires, stay prepared by:

• Knowing your neighborhood exit routes and shelter locations.
• Discuss a plan of action with your household so everyone knows what to expect if evacuations are necessary.
• Have an arrangement for your pets and livestock predetermined as not all emergency shelters accept animals.
• Keep emergency supplies organized on hand and ready to easily transport as needed.
• Register to receive local evacuation alerts and weather condition notifications.

If your area is experiencing a wildfire, remember these safety tips:

• Attempt to keep smoke out of your home and reduce respiratory smoke exposure.
• Use high efficiency filters for central air conditioning systems and set your fresh air intake to recirculate mode to prohibit outside air from entering.
• Prepare for possible long-term power outages with supplies of batteries, flashlights, water, food with extended shelf life, etc.
• Keep updated on current conditions and heed Emergency Alert System evacuation notifications.

Now that the wildfire flames have been put out, ensure to follow these safety tips on what to do after a wildfire:

• Do not return home until after authorities have cleared the area.
• Continue to monitor the air quality reports in the area, use N95 respiratory protection as needed, and pay close attention to any health effects.
• Understand that embers and ash may still be hot. Child should avoid affected areas if possible and should not assist in cleaning. Adults should ensure to wear various protection if in affected areas, including gloves, long pants, long sleeves, goggles, shoes, etc. Wash ash off as soon as possible if in your mouth, eyes, or on the skin.
• Be aware of driving and building hazards. Access affected areas during daylight to better see pending hazards.

Experiencing a community catastrophe like a Wildfire is devastating. SERVPRO of Santa Cruz professionals understand how traumatic these situations are and have assisted in numerous fire cleanups spanning the past 20 years. We are here to help guide you through each step of the way.

If you’ve experienced fire damage, do not hesitate to contact our representatives for assistance today. SERVPRO of Santa Cruz (831) 457-1997, here for you 24/7.