Get Ready & Prepare

Wildfires

Overview

A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire occurring on undeveloped land that requires fire suppression. Wildfires can be caused by human activities (such as arson or campfires) or by natural events such as lightning. Wildfires are costly, putting lives and property at risk and compromising rivers and watersheds, open space, timber, range, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitats, historic and cultural areas assets, scenic assets, and local economies. Vulnerability to flooding increases due to the destruction of forest and ground cover within watersheds. The potential for significant damage to life and property increases in areas where development is adjacent to dense vegetation, known as wildland urban interface (WUI) areas.

Reported outcomes of wildfire typically include only those that are attributable to the physical fire itself; these outcomes largely occur during the fire event and within or near the wildfire perimeter. However, wildfires can also generate smoke plumes or increase the risk of post-wildfire landscape events such as erosion, debris flows, and flooding.

The Fire Equation

The following three factors contribute significantly to wildland fire behavior and can be used to identify wildland fire hazard areas.

• Topography: As slope increases, the rate of fire spread increases. South-facing slopes are subject to more solar radiation, making them drier, which intensifies fire behavior.
• Fuel: The type and condition of vegetation plays a significant role in the occurrence and spread of wildland fires. Certain types of plants are more susceptible to burning or will burn with greater intensity. Dense or overgrown vegetation increases the amount of combustible material available to fuel the fire. The ratio of living to dead plant matter and the fuel’s continuity, both horizontally and vertically are also important factors. The risk of fire is increased significantly during periods of prolonged drought as the moisture content of both living and dead plant matter decreases.
• Weather: The most variable factor affecting fire behavior is weather. Temperature, humidity, wind, and lightning can affect ignition and spread. High temperatures and low humidity can lead to extreme wildfire activity. By contrast, cooling and higher humidity often signal reduced wildfire occurrence and easier containment.

Wildfire Protection Responsibility Areas

Local, state, tribal, and federal organizations all have legal and financial responsibility for wildfire protection.

Development Patterns and Wildfire Hazard

It is important to differentiate wildland fires from fires that occur in the wildland urban interface (WUI). The WUI refers to the area where houses intermingle with undeveloped wildland vegetation. The potential for significant damage to life and property exists in the WUI where development is adjacent to vegetated areas. The impacts and strategies for prevention and mitigation differ significantly between wildland fires and fires in the WUI. For example, fuel loads for wildland fires consist primarily of vegetation, whereas WUI fires have fuel loads consisting of vegetation and houses. WUI fires have become a defining challenge for California as development continues to expand into less densely populated regions, putting more homes and people at risk. CAL FIRE classifies development into two WUI classes, interface and intermix, each presenting unique fire protection problems and opportunities for risk mitigation.

• Interface: Interface represents dense urban development adjacent to wildland. The definable boundary between houses and wildland provides a line of defense and focuses mitigation efforts along this boundary.
• Intermix: Intermix represents sparse development interspersed within a landscape that maintains much of the wildland characteristics. Intermix areas often require fire agencies to devote resources to protect individual houses. Mitigation includes prevention efforts, fire resistant building materials, and defensible space.

History

The history of wildfires in Monterey County is significant. Since 1911, there has been an average of 4 wildfires a year, with an average of 17,000 acres burning annually. The Marble-Cone Fire in August 1977 burned almost 178,000 acres of land, making it the largest wildfire in recorded California history at that time. In more recent years the frequency, intensity, and impact of large wildland fires in Monterey County have increased, specifically in the Los Padres National Forest. The Basin Complex Fire, a massive wildfire near Big Sur in 2008, burned more than 162,000 acres, destroyed 58 structures, and damaged an additional 9 structures. This fire burned the majority of the Ventana Wilderness. State and federal officials spent more than $120 million to fight the fire, making it is the most expensive fire in California history up to that time, and the second most expensive in US history. The Indians Fire during this same event period burned an additional 81,000 acres, leaving 15 structures destroyed and one damaged. These combined events made 2008 the most destructive year in recorded history for fires in Monterey County.

In December 2013, the Pfeiffer Fire burned 917 acres near Big Sur and damaged or destroyed 38 structures, including 34 residential structures and 4 outbuildings. On July 22, 2016, the Soberanes Fire began as an illegal campfire located in Garrapata State Park in Monterey County. Fed by winds and dry, unmanaged vegetation resulting from several years of extreme drought, the fire quickly spread beyond the park to threaten lives, homes, property, and the environment. It was the costliest firefight in US history, costing a total of $260 million. 2020, was another record year for fires in Monterey County, with the River, Carmel, and Dolan burning 48,000, 6,905, and 124,924 acres, respectively.

Wildfire Risk

Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) are areas mapped by CAL FIRE that designate zones (based on factors such as fuel, slope, and fire weather) with varying degrees of fire hazard (i.e., moderate, high, and very high). While FHSZ do not predict when or where a wildfire will occur, they do identify areas where wildfire hazards could be more severe and therefore are of greater concern. The FHSZ model inputs frequency of fire weather, ignition patterns, expected rate-of spread, and past fire history. It also accounts for flying ember production based on the area of influence where embers are likely to land and cause ignitions. CAL FIRE also maps fire threat, which combines expected fire frequency with potential fire behavior. About 80% of land in Monterey County is categorized as high, very high, or extreme fire threat.

As outlined in the Monterey County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, each area of the County is unique in the various aspects that impact fire behavior. Variations in type of vegetation, slope, and microclimate weather all play a role in fire spread potential. Density of structures, road access, water supply, and available timely fire suppression resources also impact the fire spread potential. The severity of the wildland fire hazard is determined by the relationship between three factors: fuel classification, topographic slope, and critical fire weather frequency. The mountainous, highly combustible areas in and around the Los Padres National Forest are very susceptible to wildland fires. The communities along the Big Sur coast, including Big Sur, Post, Lucia, Gorda, and Plaskett, are also at great risk to wildland fires. Homes and property in the wildland urban interface (WUI) are likely areas of concern for future fires. Of the about 35,000 housing units located in the WUI, 38% are in an intermix zone and 62% are in an interface zone. As both types of WUI account for significant area in Monterey County, mitigation strategies should address both zones.

The CAL FIRE BEU Unit Strategic Plan has identified the following high risk fire areas in Monterey County:

• State Highway 68 Corridor between Salinas and Monterey Peninsula / Laureles Grade
• Carmel Valley, Carmel Valley Village, and Cachagua
• Carmel Highlands / Palo Colorado Canyon
• Pine Canyon (King City)
• North Monterey County / Aromas
• Jacks Peak / Pebble Beach

Prepare for Wildfire

It is important to prepare ahead of time for wildfires to prevent their spread and ensure your household is ready to respond. Make sure you take steps to prepare your home and your family.

• Make a Plan for your household, including your pets, so that you and your family know what to do, where to go, and what you will need to protect yourselves from wildfires.
• Learn and practice evacuation routes. Learn more about evacuating so you are ready to leave quickly in the event of a wildfire.
• Gather supplies, including non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, and water for several days, in case you must leave immediately or if services are cut off in your area.
• Make sure to Sign up for Alerts. Text MCWildfire to 888777 for wildfire specific alerts.
• Make sure your insurance policies and personal documents, like ID, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure password-protected digital space.

Strengthen your Home

Create Defensible Space
Defensible space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it helps protect your home from catching fire—either from embers, direct flame contact or radiant heat. Proper defensible space also provides firefighters a safe area to work in, to defend your home.

Harden your Home
Prepare for wildfire and harden your home now. There are three ways your home can be exposed to wildfire: direct flames from a wildfire or burning neighboring home; radiant heat from nearby burning plants or structures; and flying embers. Flying embers from a wildfire can destroy homes up to a mile away and are responsible for the destruction of most homes during a wildfire. Taking the necessary measures to harden (prepare) your home can help increase its likelihood of survival when wildfire strikes.

Stay Safe During a Wildfire

While there is a lot you can to do to prepare and mitigate the impacts of wildfires, during a wildfire the best way to stay safe is to be alert and evacuate if told to do so or if you feel unsafe.

• Pay attention to emergency alerts and notifications for information and instructions.
• Evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to do so!
  • Check with local authorities for the latest information about public shelters. You can also download the free Red Cross Emergency app for a list of open Red Cross shelters in your area.
  • Consider making plans with friends or family to shelter with them where you may be safer and more comfortable.
• If trapped, call 9-1-1 and give your location, but be aware that emergency response could be delayed or impossible. Turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
• Use an N95 mask to protect yourself from smoke inhalation or limit your exposure to smoke by doing the following:
  • Choose a room to close off from outside air and set up a portable air cleaner or filter to keep the air in this room clean even when it’s smoky in the rest of the building and outdoors.
  • Use high efficiency filters in your central air conditioning system to capture fine particles from smoke. If your system has fresh air intake, set the system to “recirculate” mode and close the outdoor intake damper.
  • If you are not ordered to evacuate but smoky conditions exist, stay inside in a safe location or go to a community building where smoke levels are lower.
• If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible.

Returning Home After a Wildfire

• Do not return home until authorities say it is safe to do so.
• Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris and live embers. The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or spark another fire.
• When cleaning, wear protective clothing – including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves and sturdy thick-soled shoes – during clean-up efforts.
• Use a respirator to limit your exposure, and wet debris to minimize breathing dust particles. People with asthma, COPD and/or other lung conditions should take precautions in areas with poor air quality, as it can worsen symptoms.
• Document property damage with photographs. Conduct an inventory and contact your insurance company for assistance.
• Send text messages or use social media to reach out to family and friends. Phone systems are often busy following a disaster. Make calls only in emergencies.

Additional Resources

• Fire Safe Council for Monterey County
• CAL FIRE Prepare for Wildfire
• Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality (EPA)
• Wildfire Information Sheet