Residents invited to ‘Defend Atascadero’ wildland fire preparedness meeting
The event will be held at the Atascadero City Hall, located at 6500 Palma Ave Atascadero, and is being made possible through a grant provided by the San Luis Obispo Community Fire Safe Council.
–To better prepare the community in the event of a wildfire, on Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services in conjunction with the San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council will host “Defend Atascadero,” a community wildfire preparedness event.
During recent years, California has experienced some very catastrophic wildfires. The City of Atascadero is not immune and we are no stranger to these rapid and destructive types of fires. In the summer of 1994, the Highway 41 Fire burned 49,000 acres, destroying 103 structures and 91 vehicles in its path. In the last five years, Atascadero has responded to 97 vegetation fires within City limits.
“Our goal is for residents to have the necessary information to make their homes as safe as possible from the devastating effects a wildland fire can have on their lives and on the community as a whole,” said Atascadero Fire Chief Casey Bryson. “These impacts can be greatly reduced when residents apply the information that will be provided at this event and take the necessary steps to make their homes fire-safe,” said Bryson.
In 2003, nearly 4,000 homes were lost in just a few days in California. During the course of just three large California wildfires during 2017, the Tubbs, Nuns and Thomas fires, there were 8,054 homes lost, 373,082 acres burned and 27 deaths. According to 2018 statistics and again using only three California wildfires, the Camp, Woolsey and Carr fires, there were 22,061 homes lost, over 479,936 acres burned and 96 deaths. This is truly an alarming upward trend.
Informational events like “Defend Atascadero” can greatly improve the chances that residents and their homes will survive a wildland fire. A wide-range of topics will be covered, including how to best prepare your home to survive a wildland fire, creating defensible space and evacuation planning. This is a self-paced format and citizens are free to stay as long or short of time as they desire to obtain information on how to defend their loved ones and property.
“Fire Safety is a top priority and we want to do everything we can to protect our residents,” said Mayor Heather Moreno, “which includes proper planning, preparation and by everyone doing their part. Please join me in helping our firefighters Defend Atascadero.”
The event will be held at the Atascadero City Hall, located at 6500 Palma Ave Atascadero, and is being made possible through a grant provided by the San Luis Obispo Community Fire Safe Council. For more information on the event, contact Fire Marshal/Captain Tom Peterson at (805) 470-3300 or email him at [email protected].
