50% of homes in Santa Cruz County considered high or extreme wildfire risk

According to a new report more than 50,000 homes in Santa Cruz County are considered to be at high or extreme risk of wildfires.

The study done by Verisk Analytics looked at several factors when determining risk including how close a property is to forests, shrubs and trees; whether it is near hilly or mountainous terrain; and if it is hard to reach and isolated.

Verisk says 52,400 homes are considered high risk in the County, that’s about 50%.

In comparison, 29% of San Benito County homes are at high or extreme wildfire risk and 28% of Monterey County homes.

Cal Fire Captain Scott Kenney says they are seeing more homes being built in rural areas of the county making some more susceptible to wildfires.

“We see more and more homes built in rural areas what we’re trying to get out is the education to the homes to provide that defensible space to their structures in the event of a wild land fire,” says Capt. Kenney.

Cal fire encourages homeowners to make a defensible space around their home, “with that defending their home as far as clearing vegetation, under the guidelines of the defensible space up to 100 feet from the structure or up to their property line. Moving some of the needles on their roof, out of the gutters, underneath the decks. Not stacking stuff underneath your desk. Those are all things you can do as well as having a plan in case a wild land fire were to come through,” says Capt. Kenney.

While homes in heavily wooded areas or in mountainous terrain are considered a higher risk, Capt. Kenney says that doesn’t mean other areas are immune.

“There is still the risk of a wild land fire whether you’re in flat grassy area rather than mountainous timber terrain, it just depends on how much defensible space you’re going to provide to a structure. Steeper slope may need more clearance rather than a grassy flat area, however with winds there’s always still those potentials. “

Cal Fire officials say clearing out the area around your home does not only help protect your home, it helps others too, “it also protects a structure fire from going out into the wild land and affecting further communities. As well as it provides the needed defensible space and ability for us to go in and protect your structure. That way we’re not risking or adding additional threat to the firefighters lives,” says Capt. Kenney.