California Urban Areas Suffer Catastrophic Damage in Urban Wildfire

Multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong winds, rage across Southern California.

Thousands of firefighters, including multiple teams and trucks from Bexar County, have been battling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. The two largest fires, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena remain active. One of the latest, the Hughes Fire in the Castaic area, has prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people.  Visit fire.ca.gov to see the latest progress made by the large team of firefighters battling these fires.

Ready, Set Go!  Are you prepared for an urban fire?

The International Association of Fire Chiefs launched the "Ready, Set, Go!" program nationally in 2011. Texas is very active with nearly 400 members.

• Ready: Your home and family should be ready long before a wildfire ignites. Creating defensible space through proper landscaping techniques (PDF, 13MB) and using fire resistant building materials (PDF, 2MB) designed to withstand a wildfire are part of this step.
• Set: When a wildfire is headed your way, it’s time to start preparing to leave. Alert your family and friends. Stay tuned to news reports. Grab your emergency kit, and be ready to head out at a moment’s notice. Make sure you know where you're going and what you're taking with you. The American Red Cross can provide shelter and basic necessities during a disaster and can help you get back on your feet after it's over.
• Go! Once the fire is bearing down on you, there is often nothing you can do but get out of its way. At this point, it’s time to go!