Emergency Preparedness & Wildfire Prevention in Atascadero

The Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services Department would like to take this opportunity to share ongoing safety precautions to keep our residents and the community safe and prepared in the event of a wildland fire. With the recent fires sweeping through areas of Southern California, there have been a number of inquiries about emergency preparedness and how to best prepare for a major wildfire event. This is an opportunity to provide necessary information on the priorities the Fire Department focuses on and what you can do to be prepared in the event of a wildland fire emergency. 

On an ongoing basis, the Fire Department is continually inspecting and maintaining fire equipment and fire engines to the highest standards. Atascadero Fire works closely with the Atascadero Mutual Water Company to ensure the water storage and hydrant system is sufficient and reliable.  Fire hydrants are tested on a continual basis to assure they are fully operating. Generators are tested to make sure they are fully working and in place in the event there is a loss of power. Our fire personnel trains continuously throughout the year and we prepare our community through the Community Wildfire Prevention Plan, Emergency Plan and Vegetation Management Plan.  We seek to reduce the potential of a large wildfire through fuel management programs including the annual chipping program, weed abatement inspections, and designated burn days. Burn days are strictly monitored and allowed only when weather permits.  They are currently restricted due to the forecasted wind event.  The Fire Department will also provide a consultation to evaluate a property’s fuels and defensible space with recommendations to better protect your residence during a wildland fire event. Click here for the variety of plans and services offered or to schedule a consultation.

In the event of an active fire, the City’s Fire and Police Departments and Public Works make sure the city roadways are passable, and clear of downed trees and downed electrical lines. In addition, if the area is marked unsafe, we will work to evacuate all residents from the area impacted.

The following provides helpful information to best prepare, plan and be ready for a fire: 

Defensible Space & Hardening Your Home: Preparing your home and property by implementing defensible space will help minimize your fire risk. For ways to design a landscape that minimizes the risk of fire spreading and ideas to harden your home, click here.

Stay Informed! Know Your Zone: It’s important to make sure your home is clearly marked with the address so that we can find you quickly in the event of an emergency. It’s also important to know what Zone you are in and staying in the loop of information being shared about evacuation areas by downloading the proper apps and information. Click here to learn more.

Create an Emergency Kit Including Food and Water Storage. Do not rely on last minute purchases of emergency items, when demand inevitably outpaces supply. For more information on emergency preparedness, click here.

Plan for a Loss of Power: Currently, there are no fuel stations in Atascadero that are equipped with back-up generators to provide power during a shutoff. Without alternate power, stations will not be able to run fuel pumps to provide diesel or gasoline. It is strongly advised to keep vehicle fuel tanks above half and to have adequate fuel storage for generators. Be sure that any storage of fuel is stored properly and safely. Also, consider alternate fuel sources if making a generator purchase, such as natural gas or propane.

How to Communicate: An extended power outage as a result of a fire will potentially exhaust the back-up power sources for nearby cell towers. An outage that continues for more than 48 hours will likely affect the reliability of cell phone communication.  Be sure to include an AM/FM radio and extra batteries in your emergency kit.

For additional information or assistance, please contact the Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services at (805) 461-5070.