Staying safe during fire season on the Central Coast

Firefighters are reminding residents in the Santa Cruz Mountains to be careful during fire season.

Boulder Creek resident Dave Chison told KION staying fire safe is a year round project.

“It is an ongoing thing just taking down the brush that the latter fuel can go up a tree,” said Dave Chison.

However, fire crews say now is not the time to create a defensible space around your home.

“We recommend that be done in the winter or spring,” said Cal Fire Chief Rich Sampson.

Cal Fire warns against using chainsaws, wood chippers or any other kind of machinery that could easily spark a fire.

“It is awfully dry. Now is when we’re having our fires and a lot of people when they’re doing their defensible space can actually start more fires than they’re going to stop,” said Sampson.

Cal Fire does recommend anyone having a plan in place and valuables ready to go to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

Sampson also said residents need to be looking nearly a calendar year ahead to prepare for the upcoming fire season.