Fire Hazards
In the case of a fire
If there is a fire, act quickly. Prepare for this emergency by knowing your building's exits and escape routes.
- Activate fire alarm
- Proceed to nearest exit
- Use stairs, not elevators
- Assist persons with disabilities if safe to do so
- Meet at pre-established assembly area
- Account for individuals
- Re-enter only when directed
Fire smoke inhalation prevention
If you see or smell smoke in the immediate area, limit or avoid outdoor activity, including exercise. This particularly applies to children and older adults, people with breathing or heart issues, such as asthma and pregnant individuals.
Bay Area residents impacted by wildfire smoke are advised to:
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed, where air quality is better.
- Keep indoor air cool or visit an air-cooling center.
- Set home and car ventilation systems on re-circulate to prevent drawing in outside air.
- Stay hydrated by drinking water.
- Limit or avoid outdoor recreational and sports activities.
- Use an air filter, especially if there are household members with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions, or elderly persons and children.
- Avoid using wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, lawn mowing, leaf blowing, burning candles and incense, barbecuing, smoking.
- If possible, leave the affected area for the duration of a heavy smoke event.
Using a mask during smoke events
- N95 masks or higher are a last resort, for people without access to safer indoor filtered air.
- Some specific masks (N95s or higher) may be helpful for those who must be outdoors for long periods, but they must fit well and provide a tight seal around the wearer's mouth and nose to be effective.
- N95 masks require a tight seal to work, thus may not protect men with beards or young children.
- Persons with chronic breathing or heart issues or other medical conditions, should check with their health care provider before using an N95 mask, as they can make breathing more difficult.
- Bandanas (wet or dry), paper or surgical masks, or tissues held over the mouth and nose will not protect from wildfire smoke or small particulate matter in the air.
- View guidance and images form the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Wildfire
Ready, Set, Go
Help reduce wildfire risk and better prepare your family and your home with Ready, Set, Go. Learn more by clicking on the titles below.
Get READY
Get your home READY by creating defensible space to buffer it from flammable vegetation such as grass, trees and shrubs. Defensible space helps to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and increases the chance of your home surviving a wildfire.
Get SET
SET your family up to be prepared for wildfires and other disasters by creating an action plan that will help you survive and communicate if you must evacuate your home.
GO
Be ready to GO. Take the evacuation steps necessary to give your household the best chance of surviving a wildfire. Stay informed and leave early to avoid being caught in fire, smoke, or road congestion.
Fire hazard zones
While all of California is subject to some degree of fire hazard, there are specific features that make some areas more hazardous. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is required by law to map areas of significant fire hazards based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors.
The Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps were developed using a science-based and field tested computer model that assigns a hazard score based on the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical weather for the area. The State identified three hazard zones in State and Local Responsibility Areas (LRA): "Moderate", "High" and "Very High".
Local Responsibility Area
What are Fire Hazard Severity Zones?
State law requires the California Office of the State Fire Marshal (SFM) to group lands into Fire Hazard Severity Zones and send maps of these zones to cities that oversee their respective Local Responsibility Area (LRA). The SFM must identify places in the state as Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on how dangerous the fire risk is in those areas. State law also says that cities must hold a public hearing on the map update within 30 days of receiving the map update from SFM and adopt an ordinance recognizing a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone on a local map within 120 days of release. To see exact borders of streets and areas within these zones, starting February 24, 2025, you can check the CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer.
Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer
The Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps are developed using a science-based and field-tested model that assigns a hazard score based on the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), predicted flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical fire weather for the area. There are three levels of hazard in the State Responsibility Areas: moderate, high, and very high.
Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps evaluate “hazard,” not “risk”. They are like flood zone maps, where lands are described in terms of the probability level of a particular area being inundated by floodwaters, and not specifically prescriptive of impacts. “Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts. “Risk” is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, accounting for any modifications such as fuel reduction projects, defensible space, and ignition resistant building construction.
References:
Title 14 California Code of Regulations §1280.02 Registered April1, 2020.
Government Code Amended by SB 63 §51178 and §51178.5 Effective January 1, 2022.
Government Code Amended by AB 211 §51179 Effective September 27, 2022
Defensible Space
Defensible space is the buffer between your structure and the surrounding area.
Adequate defensible space acts as a barrier to slow or halt the progress of fire that would otherwise engulf your property. It also helps ensure the safety of firefighters defending your home. Defensible space is the first line of defense for your home against wildfire.
Please visit the CalFire Defensible Space website to learn practical ways to protect your home from wildfire.
Additional resources
FAQs
What is Spare the Air?
Spare the Air is an awareness campaign and a call to action. The campaign informs people about the dangerous health effects of air pollution and asks residents to drive less to reduce pollution when a Spare the Air Alert is issued.
When is a Spare the Air Alert issued?
Typically, a Spare the Air Alert is issued during peak ozone months, May–October, when ground-level ozone (smog) is forecast to meet or exceed 126 on the Air Quality Index (AQI). However, we have seen alerts at other times of the year or for other reasons, when the air quality is poor and the AQI exceeds recommended levels.
How can air pollution impact you?
- Aggravate respiratory disease such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma
- Cause lung damage, even after symptoms such as coughing or a sore throat disappear
- Cause wheezing, chest pain, dry throat, headache or nausea
- Reduce resistance to infections
- Increase fatigue
- Weaken athletic performance
What are the health effects of air pollution?
Anyone – even healthy people – can experience health impacts from air pollution, including respiratory irritation or breathing difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities. Your actual risk of adverse effects depends on your current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of your exposure.
High air pollution levels can cause immediate health problems, including:
- Aggravated cardiovascular and respiratory illness
- Added stress to heart and lungs, which must work harder to supply the body with oxygen
- Damaged cells in the respiratory system
Long-term exposure to polluted air can have permanent health effects, such as:
- Accelerated aging of the lungs
- Loss of lung capacity and decreased lung function
- Development of diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly cancer
- Shortened life span
Who is most vulnerable to poor air quality?
Those most susceptible to health problems from air pollution are:
- Children
- Older adults and the elderly
- Individuals with heart disease, coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure
- Individuals with lung diseases, including asthma, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Pregnant women
- Outdoor workers
- Outdoor athletes
People in these groups may experience health impacts at lower air pollution levels, or feel health effects more severely at any level.
How can air pollution impact you?
- Aggravate respiratory disease such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma
- Cause lung damage, even after symptoms such as coughing or a sore throat disappear
- Cause wheezing, chest pain, dry throat, headache or nausea
- Reduce resistance to infections
- Increase fatigue
- Weaken athletic performance
What are some ways to improve air quality?
- Drive less, especially when a Spare the Air Alert is in effect
- Use a zero emission transportation option such as biking, walking or driving an electric vehicle
- Take public transit or carpool
- Bring your lunch to work
- Use a propane grill
- Use an electric lawn mower, electric leaf blower, electric-power tools and other electric lawn/garden equipment
- Refuel after the sun goes down
- Buy or lease a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle
- Work from home
- Don’t idle – turn off your engine when parked
How can I receive Spare the Air Alerts?
- Get a text
- Get Email AirAlerts
- Add the widget to your website
- Get a call
- Get the iPhone app
- Get the Android app
Get all of these resources at the Spare the Air website.