Summary of Presentation by Burlingame Police and Parks Superintendent
“Once smoke is in the air, don’t wait on us. Evacuate,” stressed Chief Pucci, who explained that once an official alert goes out, people trying to leave may find exit routes crowded or closed.
Before an emergency occurs, he said, it’s essential to develop a plan and practice it. When disasters occur, there will be general chaos and cortisol flooding our bodies that impacts our cognitive functioning. Burlingame Neighborhood Network offers an annual Disaster Response Drill so neighbors can practice skills so they become ingrained and automatic. This year’s drill will take place on Saturday, October 4, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in multiple neighborhoods throughout Burlingame. You can learn more about it and sign up at https://burlingamenetwork.org/drill.
New Fire Risk Map
He shared the state’s new Fire Severity Zone Map, which shows, for the first time, that portions of Burlingame and Millbrae along Highway 280 are in the most severe red zone. That means these homeowners will be required to disclose that risk when selling their homes, and they must create a defensible buffer around these residences within three years. (Scroll down on this webpage to search for your address and see if it’s in a high-risk area.)
Holtz advised choosing native trees because they are drought-tolerant and being on the lookout for hazardous trees.
Pucci said increased temperatures due to climate change, intense wind events, “legacy infrastructure” and changing vegetation have extended the wildfire season. He stressed that local firefighters are experienced in fighting wildfires and have strong mutual aid protocols with county and state agencies.
Some good news, he noted, is that the Central County Fire Department is working with Stanford to place these fire detection sensors in wildfire-sensitive areas. In addition, Hillsborough is installing a system that will automatically launch drones when emergency dispatchers enter certain codes, providing live streaming of terrain that may be expanded to Burlingame in the future.
Prepare Your Family
The best way to be notified about these and other dangers is to sign up for SMC Alert at https://smcalert.info. Since some accounts were dropped a few years ago when the county changed the provider of this service, it’s important to update your account. Pucci said the county plans to alert residents of the need to evacuate with a high-low siren, like ones used in Europe, that will be transmitted from roving police cars.
Other ways you can be prepared for wildfires are:
- Pack a “Go Bag” of important items.
- Figure out your transportation needs.
- Determine alternate routes for evacuation.
- Decide on a destination where you and family members will meet.
- Talk to your neighbors to find out who might need a hand.
- Have a plan for your pets.
Prepare Your Home
Ways to harden your house include:
- Have a fire-resistant roof (not wood shakes) and siding (stucco, metal or stone) and fencing (metal or stone).
- Add ember-resistant screening to your home’s vents.
- Enclose your home’s gutters.
- Install double-paned windows.
- Make sure no combustible materials are within five feet of your home.
- Create a defensible space around your home by spacing trees and plants away from your home.
- Clean your easement. Holtz said the adjacent homeowner is responsible for clearing vegetation in most utility and alleyways in Burlingame.
Check Your Trees
Holtz advised residents to also check for hazardous trees. He recommended that they:
- Choose native trees that are more likely to survive droughts.
- Remove dead trees, but don’t remove any trees with trunks more than 44 inches in circumference without first checking with the city.
- Remove dead limbs and growth under trees that might fuel fires.
- Look for trees that have co-dominant (two) trunks or an uncorrected lean.
- Contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 650-558-7330 or [email protected] with any questions about trees.
- If a neighbor’s tree is causing a problem, let the neighbor know your concern first before contacting the city. If that doesn’t solve the problem, the city can refer you to a free conflict resolution service.
Download Chief Pucci’s presentation here
Visit Cal Fire’s “Get Wildfire Ready” website for more tips and advice.