Wildfire season is here. Don’t want your home to burn down? The Santa Barbara County Fire Department has tips it hopes will help you evade disaster.
In the first quarter of this year, the Palisades Fire tore through Los Angeles County, burning more than 23,000 acres of land and destroying more than 6,000 structures. Aiming to prevent a similar catastrophe locally, the county Fire Department announced the start of high fire season on June 2 during a press conference.
“The hard truth is, in the face of a fast-moving fire, firefighters may have to make difficult choices about which houses they can defend,” county 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann said at the conference. “They will prioritize those that have the greatest chance of surviving with their help.”
Along with deploying more resources to fight vegetation fires throughout the county, the department also suspended burn permits issued for residential burning and hazard reduction. As summer starts and the dry season accelerates, the department encouraged community members to help prevent a catastrophe as well.
“In the county, we have about 100 vegetation fires that start every year,” Fire Marshal Fred Tan said at the conference. “Eighty-five percent of those are along a highway or a roadway.”
As Caltrans and other agencies work to clear roadways of fuel, the Fire Department urged property owners to remove all combustible materials—leaves, mulch, wood piles—from within 5 feet of homes and structures and use non-combustible materials when landscaping the area.
“Clean your gutters,” Hartmann said at the conference. “We tend to think that’s something to do in the fall for the rain. Those leaves and twigs are just waiting for a fire to ignite. Clean your gutters, now.”
Within 5 to 30 feet of homes and structures, the department said to keep grass no more than 4 inches, remove dead plants and vegetation, and maintain space between trees and shrubs. From 30 to 100 feet, thin or remove excess vegetation, prune tree limbs up 6 to 10 feet from the ground, and reduce plant density.
“Even wooden fences attached to the house act as conduits for fire,” Hartmann said. “That was one of the lessons from the Palisades [fire].”
The department also advised residents to clear vegetation along access points like driveways and private roads, so emergency vehicles can safely enter if needed. Overhanging branches should be cut to at least 13.5 feet above roadways and at least 10 feet of clear, horizontal space for driving should be provided.
“We have a lot of narrow streets, and we have a lot of residences that are built into the wild land environment,” fire Public Information Officer Capt. Scott Safechuck said at the conference. “When we put out those red flag warnings, that’s the warning—a fire could happen. When those fires happen, be proactive to leave the area, especially if you see smoke.”
To further reduce your home’s risk, the department recommends installing 1/8-inch metal mesh screens on attic and crawl space vents; replacing wood shake roofs with Class A fire-rated roofing; covering chimneys with spark arresters; switching to dual-pane, tempered glass windows; and removing combustible fencing connected to structures.
“Every action you take matters,” Hartmann said at the conference. “Our firefighters are doing their part. Now, we have to step up and do ours.”
Those looking to develop their own Ready, Set, Go plan can download their wildfire preparation checklist and learn how to protect their home before fire season intensifies at sbcfire.com/ready-set-go.
“Know your neighborhood so you know the alternative routes to get out of your neighborhood,” Safechuck said. “The sooner you leave, the better your chance of survival.”
This article appears in Jun 5-15, 2025.