As we’ve witnessed in recent years, Santa Clara County is not immune to the devastating affects of wildfires. With summer – and Wildfire Season – around the corner, residents should begin planning how to create and maintain Defensible Space and consider ways to improve their community’s fire safety.
If you live in the hillside (or Wildland Urban Interface) areas around Santa Clara County, the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council has resources available to assist you to keep YOUR home Fire Safe. A 20-page, step-by-step guide for homeowners and residents is available on-line or by calling (408) 975-9591. The guide, Living With Fire in Santa Clara County, is available here and includes recently updated information on creating Defensible Space, fire resistant plants, and roofing materials.
To see if you live in a fire hazard zone, download the Fire Hazard Map (PDF) of Saratoga. To view quickly, right-click and select "Save As."
The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council meets at 2:00 PM on the second Tuesday of each month. Homeowners, residents and representatives of all interested organizations are welcome!
About the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council
The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council is a non-profit organization composed of individuals and public and private sector organizations that share a common, vested interest in preventing and reducing losses from wildfires. The mission of the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council is “Mobilizing the people of Santa Clara County to protect their homes, communities and environment from wildfires.”
The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council’s primary programs and projects are:
- Community Outreach and Education Programs: SCFSC volunteers distribute literature and other materials at community events and meetings. Community engagement is an essential part of these programs, which include Youth Education Programs for families and children living in Wildland Urban Interface areas.
- Hazardous Fuel Assessment and Strategy Projects: Our member organizations and other stakeholders identify fire prone areas in Santa Clara County, propose appropriate treatments to reduce the risk of wildfires and develop Community Wildfire Protection Plans.
- Hazardous Fuel Reduction Projects: These are typically clearing and chipping projects, which are based on Community Wildfire Protection Plans and designed to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations. We have five 2009-2010 federal grants for Defensible Space Chipping Programs for homeowners and residents in Santa Clara County.
