Always be fire ready:Folsom area not exempt from serious wildfire threat

It's the words no resident ever wants to hear as firefighters combat a fire in their community: "we need to dispatch multiple law enforcement units to the area to assist with evacuations." Such dialogue was a reality last Wednesday night as Folsom and Sacramento Metropolitan Firefighters were battling a fast-moving vegetation fire in the steep terrain next to Lake Natoma that was edging toward a popular Folsom neighborhood that extends into Orangevale. Although such evacuations were soon halted as firefighters gained control of the blaze, the incident left residents a bit shaken and those across the community well aware of the extreme fire danger we are currently amidst in the Golden State. The Folsom area is not exempt from the threat of a devastating fire like those we have seen in nearby counties such as Napa, El Dorado County, Amador, Shasta, Butte and others. In 2021, 8,619 fires burned almost 2.6 million acres across California. In those fires, three people were killed and more than 3,600 structures were damaged or destroyed. Out of the top 20 fires to take place historically in California, all but three of them have taken place since 2000. The majority of the fires have taken place in the last two years as extreme drought conditions and excess fuel across the state have sent fire dangers soaring, even in suburban areas with limited or little vegetation being a factor. The Folsom Telegraph sat down with Folsom Fire Chief Ken Cusano one day after the Lake Natoma incident to talk about the likelihood and threat of a devastating fire in or near the city of Folsom. While nobody can predict what Mother Nature has for us in the future, one thing is certain: it can happen anywhere and the best thing to do is be fire-safe and always be prepared to leave in a moment's notice. "It can really happen anywhere. It's just dependent on a number of factors," said Cusano. "Here in Folsom. I think a lot of people think that you have to live in a wildland urban interface area for a devastating fire to occur but that's not necessarily true and there have been several examples recently not so far from here. It just all depends on the conditions on any particular day." One of the most recent examples of multiple structures catching fire where wildland was not a major factor but weather conditions were was in Yuba County where several houses progressively caught fire in a quick amount of time, fueled by area winds that carried embers from the initial ignition. "If we have days that there is a north wind that is blowing 25 to 30 miles per hour and a fire breaks out, that is all it takes," said Cusano. "It can easily spread to house after house in that situation. It doesn't have to be a forested area like we saw on the Caldor Fire. All it takes is an ember and certain weather conditions." Each year, Cusano and other firefighter leaders strongly advocate for residents to prepare their properties for wildfire and to take measures to be ready to quickly leave in the event of an evacuation. In today's climate of high temperatures and dry conditions, the advice is well received by residents. Cusano explained there are many other ways to make your property safe from fire beyond the typical suggestion of clearing vegetation at least 30 to 100 feet from a structure or fence and pruning low-hanging limbs six to 10 feet. "Some people have large decks around their home with space below them and find it ideal for extra storage," said Cusano. "A deck is a perfect media for either ember cast or to become a ladder fuel for any type of fire that comes into a yard. If you have combustibles under your deck, it's just going to exacerbate a fire or make it bigger and more difficult for firefighters to put out." Residents with a deck should be vigilant when it comes to what is on top of the deck as well, especially if a wildfire breaks out nearby and there is a chance of falling embers. "If there is an active fire in your community and you start to see embers falling and you have things like patio furniture, cushions and such made of materials that could fuel an ember, you should think about bringing those to a safe area and prevent a potential ignition," said Cusano. "Anything or anyplace an ember can fall and slowly ignite a fire should be at the top of mind." Another area that a homeowner can make a simple improvement to combat the chance of fire is to their homes' ventilation. Oftentimes when a large fire breaks out, embers ignite neighboring homes when they are blown into attic vents that have open spacing or large screens. "This is something many don't think of and it's a simple fix," said Cusano. "If your vents have large screens in them, an ember can travel through that. Installing a fine mesh screen can be a great preventative measure that is simple and affordable; they can install it right along with the existing screen. It still provides ventilation and decreases the chance of anything entering the attic space from outside." Another way to prevent the spread of an incoming fire is to make sure flammable items aren't stored next to the structure or against a nearby fence. Items such as gasoline cans or lawnmowers stored outside like this can be a source of ignition with falling embers. "You should always consider storing equipment and such in your garage as much as possible, " said Cusano. "There, it's much safer and less likely to contribute to a neighboring fire as if it were outside. Most garages today are built with a two-hour fire rating and firewalls that can protect the living area of the home should a fire break out so it's much safer than sitting next to a dry fence in the hot sun or anything." No matter how well you prepare your home to be fire safe, there is always the chance that extreme conditions will overwhelm your efforts and an evacuation will be required regardless. While it might seem extreme, it is always recommended that you are well-prepared to leave your home in a moment's notice. In the case of last week's fire near Lake Natoma, many residents had already started evacuating on their own while firefighters and law enforcement were preparing to call for an official evacuation. "That's how everyone should think, be one step ahead of the fire," said Cusano. "If it's apparent that it's moving your way, it's a good time to get away from it. While using a garden hose to put out a small grass fire near a fence will prove successful, once a fire is into the wall of a home, staying back and doing so can become really dangerous. That's where we come in and do what we do while you are out of harm's way." Cusano suggested that residents have a set evacuation plan or route should they need to quickly leave their neighborhood. In addition to an exit plan, having an emergency bag stocked with essentials that is ready to grab is a good idea as well. "Having a bag with some simple items in it, such as a phone, bottled water, maybe some nonperishable food or snack time items and medications in case you will be away for a few hours is a good idea," he said. "If you have pets, having pet carriers ready and having a small supply of food and water for them is ideal as well." When it comes to fire response, the Folsom Fire Department has always been known for being quick and well equipped. The city is the department's top priority when it comes to staffing stations during fire season. Folsom Fire is currently recruiting for additional firefighters, but like many organizations across the country, labor is limited. Cusano is confident that the city is in good hands this fire season. However, this year will look a little different when it comes to aiding in large fires in other counties or states like they have in the past. "That is going to be tough this year for just about all agencies," he said. "We keep our city as a top priority to have adequate staffing at all times for an incident. This year, we won't be able to send teams outside of our area like in the past. It's a situation we are all faced with. Let's just hope everyone in the community is aware of fire hazards and does their part for fire prevention. "