Santa Cruz Fire Department prepare residents for wildfire
Preparing for wildfires is a big priority for many Central Coast communities, and one Santa Cruz neighborhood got a crash course Monday night.
The DeLaveaga/Prospect Heights area is especially at risk and Santa Cruz Fire wants them to learn to protect themselves.
It’s a reminder inspired by recent devastating fires like the ones up north and even the Bear Fire, closer to home. While the meeting was focused on one neighborhood, the lessons can be valuable to everyone.
Scenes like the devastating Northern California wildfires are the nightmare of every homeowner in the Santa Cruz neighborhood.
For residents near DeLaveaga Park, it was almost a reality before a fire in early July was contained.
“It just was an eye opener, we were told that we may have to evacuate our home right away, in minutes of notification,” said Dave Dwyer who lives across the street from DeLaveaga Park.
The Fire Department says that the DeLaveaga and Prospect Heights areas are similar to the ones that saw the most damage in Santa Rosa.
“The forest met up with the city and homes and the fire crowned and went into the homes and burned up eight thousand structures,” said Paul Horvat with the Santa Cruz fire department, “We have the same kind of interface that they have over there.”
That’s why the Santa Cruz Fire Department brought together city officials and volunteer organizations to talk about options for residents in case of a fire.
“The reminder from what just recently happened in Santa Rosa has prompted us to reengage the community to make sure that we’re prepared, that our citizens are prepared and that we do everything possible to reduce the risk of a huge wildland fire in our county,” Horvat said.
Though many say they are prepared, they came out Monday night to hear any extra advice firefighters might have.
“We want to be ready to roll if we need to,” Dwyer said.
“[Being] able to evacuate their homes quickly and be able to get all of their important items into their vehicles and be able to leave on a moment’s notice,” Horvat said.
Another important reminder given at the meeting was to sign up for reverse 911 calls to get evacuation alerts in your area.
To sign up in Santa Cruz click here and here for more on how to sign up in Monterey County.
