With California’s peak fire season underway, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection announces it is launching a new public education campaign reminding residents to plan ahead and leave early when disaster strikes.
The agency reports that the “Set, Go” campaign, which runs from August through October, introduces a refreshed creative approach under the new umbrella message: “Your Home. Your Community. Your California.”
“This new message is more than just a seasonal one,” said Cal Fire. “It represents a broader marketing and awareness initiative that Cal Fire will carry forward across all campaigns in the coming year, designed to emphasize responsibility at every level — from protecting your own home, to working together as a neighborhood, to recognizing that wildfire readiness is a shared duty across the state.”
The “Set, Go” campaign urges Californians to take three key steps: create a family wildfire action plan, pack an emergency supply kit and evacuate early when wildfires threaten. Families who prepare go bags and practice their evacuation plans are far more likely to leave quickly and safely, reducing panic and avoiding dangerous, last-minute escapes, said Cal Fire. The “Set, Go” campaign emphasizes how preparation can make the difference between a safe evacuation and a dangerous situation.
While today’s wildfires can spread faster and burn closer to where people live, Cal Fire is working aggressively to change outcomes, said the agency: “Through education, defensible space programs, fuel reduction and local partnerships, Cal Fire is preparing Californians for wildfire while strengthening resilience across the state.”
Cal Fire said it is just as important that entire communities come together to create wildfire prepared communities. Many high-risk areas have formed local fire safe councils, established Firewise communities and developed community wildfire protection plans to organize fuel mitigation projects.
The agency points out that effective wildfire preparedness must happen at every level — individual, community and agency. “In short, we are all partners in communities reducing risk,” said Cal Fire. “Neighbors helping neighbors, combined with support from fire agencies, can greatly increase a community’s ability to withstand and rebound from wildfires.”
Resources at ReadyForWildfire.org outline the steps families can take to get ready now. Recommendations include
- Wildfire action plan: Identify escape routes, practice evacuation drills, designate a safe meeting place and assign an out-of-area contact for family communication.
- Emergency supply kit: Prepare go bags with food, water, medications, important documents, clothing, flashlights, radios, chargers and pet supplies.
- Pre-evacuation readiness: Keep sturdy shoes and a flashlight by the bed, ensure cars have at least half a tank of fuel and know how to shut off utilities in case of emergency.
More information, including downloadable checklists and planning tools, is available at ReadyForWildfire.org.
