So, you survived the 4th of July without any major fire-related catastrophes. However, just because the fireworks have subsided (for the most part—watch out for stragglers), it doesn’t mean you can cruise through the rest of fire season on autopilot. To make sure you have your bases covered in terms of fire safety, take a look at this checklist. Read more
Fire Away! 4 Hot Tips for a Fire-Safe Summer
Posted on July 05, 2022 by James Florence
Posted in: Fire Prevention
Tags: water conservation, electrical, summer-related, fire prevention
4 Guidelines for a Fire-Safe Fourth of July
Posted on July 01, 2021 by James Florence
Fourth of July fireworks may be fun, but they can also be dangerous. Reduce the risk at this year’s celebration by following these safety guidelines: Read more
Posted in: Holiday Related, Fire Prevention
Tags: Fourth of July, safety tips
11 Tips for Preparing for Wildfire Season
Posted on June 01, 2021 by Suzanne Carroll
An unusually dry winter and windy conditions mean the Bay Area wildfire season is off to an early start in 2021. We’ve compiled this list of tips to help you prepare for the threat of wildfire and the presence of wildfire smoke in your community. Read more
Posted in: Indoor Air Quality, Fire Prevention, Home Tips
Tags: firescaping, indoor air quality, wildfire, air quality, wildfires, wildfire safety
Firescaping Your Property
Posted on September 08, 2020 by Suzanne Carroll
The Bay Area has already seen numerous destructive wildfires in 2020, and there are still several weeks of hot, dry weather ahead of us. As wildfires become an increasingly common threat to the region, many homeowners are turning to “firescaping,” which is the coordinated use of fire-resistant plants and building materials around the home. With the right plants and hardscaping features, you can make it harder for wildfire to take hold and spread. Firescaping is a type of landscaping, which means you still have many options to create a garden that reflects your personal style. Aside from improving safety and adding beauty, firescaping can increase the value of your home. Read more
Posted in: Fire Prevention, Uncategorized
Tags: landscaping, hardscaping, wildfire
2020 California Wildfire Recovery Resources
Posted on August 19, 2020 by Matt Solis
With wildfires threatening residential areas in multiple parts of California, Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a State of Emergency. Once again, Northern California residents must grapple with fire, heat, and smoke affecting their homes and communities.
As previous wildfire events have taught us, recovery is a slow and often confusing process. Below, you’ll find resources to help you get started and make sense of your options.
You can visit our wildfire preparedness page for information on preventing future wildfires. Read more
Posted in: Fire Prevention, Fire & Water Damage, Safety, Bay Area, Consumers, Savvy Tips
Tags: air quality, wildfires, fire, wildfire resource, wildfire safety, wildfire recovery, fire damage
Fire-Safe 2020: Defending Your Home Against Wildfires
Posted on June 30, 2020 by James Florence
After being hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, California seems due for a summer reprieve. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be the case. Not only are many areas of the state seeing a resurgence of novel Coronavirus cases, we now face another, more familiar yet equally concerning issue: wildfire season. Each summer, wildfires destroy thousands of acres and homes throughout California, and this year looks to be no exception. That’s why residents (particularly those situated in the wildland-urban interface) must be vigilant about maintaining fire-safe conditions on their properties. Consider the following advice for defending your home against wildfires. Read more
Posted in: Safety, Fire Prevention, Seasonal
Tags: landscaping, fire prevention, wildfire, home
Power Blackouts Scheduled for the Bay Area
Posted on October 08, 2019 by James Florence
Due to concerns over high wildfire risk, PG&E has scheduled power blackouts throughout much of the Bay Area on Wednesday, October 9. Starting at midnight, the utility company will begin shutting off power to targeted areas in more than 30 counties, including Sonoma, Napa, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara. It’s estimated that up to 800,000 PG&E customers will be affected by the blackouts. Read more
Posted in: Fire Prevention, Safety, Bay Area