Be Wildfire Safe & Ready with San Mateo County on April 26
Published on April 21, 2025
Prepare yourself and your family for wildfire emergencies. Join the County of San Mateo Department of Emergency Management for Be Wildfire Safe & Ready, a free community event Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the San Mateo County Event Center, Fiesta Hall, 1346 Saratoga Dr. Attendees can look forward to informative presentations and useful resources with free parking and admission.
See an overview of the event's sessions:
Opening (10 – 10:20 a.m.)
Supervisor Speier
San Mateo County Supervisor
Event Host & Moderator
Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar
Director, SMC Emergency Management
Opening Speaker
Fireside Chat 1: First-Hand Accounts (10:20 – 10:40 a.m.)
Supervisor Speier
San Mateo County Supervisor
Moderator
Betsy Burton
CZU Fire Survivor
Panelist - Sharing personal experience
Fire Chief Dave Pucci
Fire Chief of the Central County Fire Department
Panelist - Fire Department Perspective
Fire Chief Jed Wilson
Fire Chief of the Coastside Fire Protection District
Panelist - Coastside Fire Perspective
Fireside Chat 2: When Minutes Matter (10:45 – 11:05 a.m.)
Supervisor Mueller
San Mateo County Supervisor
Moderator
Steven Torrence
Emergency Management Director for Marin
Panelist - Emergency Response Coordination
Police Chief Ed Barberini
Police Chief for the San Mateo Police Department
Panelist - Law Enforcement Perspective
Home Insurance Q&A (11:10 – 11:25 a.m.)
Emily Rogan
United Policy Holders Insurance
Speaker - Insurance Considerations
Go Bag Building Demonstration (11:45 – 11:55 a.m.)
Local CERT Team Members
Community Emergency Response Team
Demonstrators - Go Bag Assembly
Fireside Chat 3: The First 72 on You (11:55 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.)
Supervisor Gauthier
San Mateo County Supervisor
Moderator
Fire Chief David Cosgrave (ret.)
Supervising Emergency Manager, SMC Emergency Management
Panelist - Home Hardening Expert
CERT/FIREWISE Representatives
Community Emergency Preparedness Programs
Panelists - Community Preparedness
Ryan Reynolds
Deputy Director for Emergency Management SMC
Panelist - Emergency Management Perspective
Next Generation Engagement Fireside Chat (12:15 – 12:35 p.m.)
High School Journalists
Mercy High School
Moderators
Supervisor Speier
San Mateo County Supervisor, Mercy HS Alum
Panelist - Sharing Personal Resilience Journey
Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar
Director, SMC Emergency Management
Panelist - Emergency Management Expert
Closing (12:35 – 12:40 p.m.)
Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar
Director, SMC Emergency Management
Closing Speaker