Bay Area Wildfire Preparedness: What You Need to Know

The Los Angeles fires in 2025 were a frightening reminder of how quickly natural disasters can upend our lives. They often happen with no warning, and it is important to be prepared, so you can act quickly when the need arises. Faced with a climate that is becoming increasingly extreme, communities across California are learning, adapting, and working to become more resilient. As we approach the five-year anniversary of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains, it’s clear that Bay Area wildfire preparedness is about working together to build long-term strength in our region.        

I talked with POST’s Forest Health Program Manager Brian Homberger, who is also a volunteer firefighter in Santa Cruz County, to learn how to prepare for fire or other disasters. His advice is accessible, practical, and rooted in his local knowledge of the land and our communities.

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Missed our live webinar? You can now watch the full recording below. Join Brian as he explores the relationship between wildfires and forest health in the Bay Area and beyond.

How to Prepare for Bay Area Wildfires

How do I know how much my home is at risk?

BH: We live in a diverse region with many different localized communities. For example, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, we have coastal areas, rural mountainous areas, suburban, urban, and farming communities. So, I’d advise checking in with your local Fire Safe Council and local fire department or district for your community recommendations.

Should I have a go bag?

BH: Everyone should absolutely have a go bag — especially since we live in an earthquake-prone area, too. Include items like cell phone chargers, medication, clothes, money, and other necessities so they are ready to go. And know where important documents like your birth certificate are in your home, because you don’t want to have to remember things like that in a state of panic. Once you’ve packed essentials in your car, you can get other things, but start with your important papers and go bag. CAL FIRE recommends the “Ready, Set, Go” philosophy, which I use myself. 

Many agencies have suggestions for go bags. San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, Santa Clara County, and FEMA offer ideas of what to put in an emergency kit.

How can I prepare my house?

BH: Look at your local fire agency’s protocols and descriptions for “home hardening.” It’s the idea of preparing your house before a fire. POST operates mostly in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara [uses CAL FIRE guidelines], and San Mateo counties, and each one has specific home hardening guidelines. 

All the guidelines start with “zone zero.” That’s the house itself and five feet out. So, that’s looking at things like:

• Do you have a deck, and could embers get underneath and be an ignition source? 
• Are the vents under your eaves wide mesh, where embers could get in and become an ignition point? 
• Do you have wooden fences, which tend to act as wicks, so fire can burn right up to the house?
• Is your house covered in ivy or is a big bougainvillea growing next to your house, which can carry fire up the side of the house? 

“Zone one” is five to 30 feet from your house. 

• What bushes and plants are there? 
• What is the landscaping like? 
• Do you have a grill near your house with a propane tank that might be flammable? 

And then working outwards up to 100 feet away from your house looking at trees and other possible dangers. There are many ways to start home hardening, and I try to do one or two things a year, just breaking it into bite-sized tasks. When you look at a long to-do list, it can be expensive, time-consuming, and overwhelming. As long as you’re working on it, I think that is helpful.

If you aren’t sure where to start, your local fire marshal or fire department will come out and do home inspections with you. Each property is different, and each neighborhood is different, so it’s great to get an outside perspective. 

How about escape routes?

BH: I can speak from experience. During the 2020 CZU fire in Bonny Doon, there was no power, no internet, and no cell phone service. You realize how dependent you are on your phone and when that doesn’t work, you can’t pull up digital maps and can’t call out. You need to know your area and pre-plan. You need to know evacuation routes and have a plan because power and communications are not guaranteed.

Anything else we can do in advance?

BH: Everyone should have a plan since we could experience a Bay Area wildfire, earthquake, or other natural disaster at any moment. Cal Fire has a great evacuation guide that applies whether you live in a house or an apartment. Here are some good tips:

• Coordinate with family members where to meet or how to get in contact. You never know if someone’s going to be out of the area or traveling when an emergency happens. Identify friends you could stay with if you evacuate.
• Never let your gas tank get below half full in case you need to leave the area in an emergency.
• Some insurance companies suggest you take a video of your home, which can help with a claim. So, do a walk through of your kitchen, bedroom, etc., recording all the contents. 
• If you have medical issues, disabilities, mobility needs, or pets, you need to plan ahead. Many counties have pet-friendly evacuation centers, so look into that in advance. San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties all have large animal evacuation plans too. 
• Knowing your neighbors and knowing their needs can make a big difference. If your neighbor doesn’t have a car, can you give them a ride to evacuate? Is there someone who isn’t mobile or is there an elderly person who might need help? Check on your neighbors. Make sure they know there’s a fire. Make sure everybody’s getting out. 

If you don’t have a car or if you rely on mass transit, evacuation can be much more stressful and difficult. Coordinate with your neighbors or nearby friends and family. If you’re relying on someone else’s car, meet up sooner rather than later because new road closures may pop up. It’s also important that your emergency bag is light enough to transport without a car. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share about wildfire preparedness?

BH: Let me share a story to illustrate the importance of pre-planning. My background is that I am a trained volunteer firefighter and I’ve been active for six years. I live in Santa Cruz, and when the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire came around, my area was evacuated. I was responding to the fire and evacuating at the same time. With so much happening at once, I put all my paperwork and everything of value in my vehicle. But, since I’m a firefighter, I drove directly to my fire station within the fire perimeter. So basically, everything sentimental and irreplaceable I drove directly into the active burn zone.

It’s a good example of how, in those moments of adrenaline, it’s difficult to think clearly. I put all of my sentimental objects within the fire area and will definitely not be doing that again. Even with training, there’s so much going on in that moment, it’s challenging to think logically and clearly, so pre-planning is essential.

Planning Now Makes All the Difference

As we reflect on the recent fires in LA and what we’ve learned in the five years since the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, it’s clear that Bay Area wildfire preparedness isn’t negotiable. And its importance is as much about building awareness, habits, and relationships as it is about making checklists or gathering supplies. Every step you can take now makes you more prepared to act under pressure. As Brian’s story shows, even trained responders can be caught off guard in the chaos of an emergency. The more we prepare — as individuals and as a community — the more equipped and resilient we will be to face an emergency, together.

About Brian Homberger

Brian Homberger is originally from Central Florida, where he earned a degree in Biology from the University of Central Florida. He has been living in California for the past 14 years and previously worked for the US Forest Service in the Tahoe Basin as a wilderness ranger and on a backcountry trail crew. Brian is a certified ISA arborist and active EMT and has been a volunteer firefighter with Santa Cruz County, Company 32, Bonny Doon for the past six years.