Ventura County Fire Department

CAMARILLO -- It’s time to get ready. The time to prepare for wildfires is before theystart, and that time is now. The Ventura County Fire Department is advising residents to actnow to protect their homes from the threat of wildfires.
“For the fire department, this is our time to get ready,” said Capt. Barry Parker. “We’repreparing all of our equipment for a wildfire response, we’re increasing our staffing levelsunder certain conditions and we’re brushing up on our wildfire skills. We want the public to bejust as concerned with their preparedness.”
Structures in a Wildland/Urban Interface zone (WUI) are at particular risk from wildfires. Thedeadline to complete weed abatement on Ventura County properties is June 1. By reducingthis fire hazard, property owners give the fire department a defensible space that allowsfirefighters to get between an approaching wildfire and the property. That space can mean thedifference between saving a home or having a fire overrun it.
“Weed abatement is an essential tool,” said Parker, “but residents can take other preventativeactions, too. They can remove firewood and other combustibles from around their homes andthey should make sure that pine needles, leaves and other flammable material is removedfrom their roofs and gutters. But the best thing they can do is to have a plan.”
To help residents prepare, the Ventura County Fire Department offers its “Wildfire ActionPlan” on its Web site (www.fire.countyofventura.org). This award-winning 12-page brochurecan be downloaded from the site and it provides tips, checklists and other resources to assistresidents in safeguarding their homes and developing an evacuation plan.
“Wildfires can occur any time the conditions are right,” he said, “and that has nothing to dowith the calendar. In Ventura County we believe fire season is year-round and we wantpeople to be ready spring, summer and fall. A little time spent preparing now could save yourlife or your home later. It’s a good investment for the future.”