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Being prepared saves lives. That dry brush is waiting to burn!

Since 2018 11 fires have burned almost 200,000 acres and caused more than 1,200 structures to be damaged or destroyed and 162 injuries. A tool for helping you be prepared is the Ventura County Fire Department Ready Set Go Website program.  To learn about home fire hazard severity, please click here for an interactive map.  Please click here to refer to the Emergency Evacuation, Road Closure & Sheltering Fact Sheet for guidelines on evacuation types.

Outside Your Home

  • Clear dry grass, brush and leaves as required by the fire code. Use ice plant and other fire-resistant plants to landscape whenever possible.
  • Clear all debris from the roof, gutters, and spouts.  Remove dead limbs located over roofs and all limbs within 10 feet of chimneys.
  • Remove weak, dead, and leaning trees.  Vary the heights of plants, shrubs, and trees, and provide adequate spacing between them.
  • Prune the lower limbs within six feet of the ground on all trees 18 feet high or taller to keep ground fires from spreading to trees.
  • Relocate firewood at least 30 feet from all structures and 10 feet from vegetation.
  • Keep plants, shrubs, and trees away from power lines.
  • Keep gas and propane tanks at least 30 feet from all structures and 10 feet from hazards.
  • Replace wood shake and other combustible roofing materials with noncombustible materials.
  • Cover chimneys and stovepipes with non-flammable screens with mesh one-half inch or less.
  • Box and enclose roof eaves that extend beyond the exterior walls.
  • Cover all attic and ridge vents with non-flammable half-inch mesh screens.
  • Make sure the number of your house is clearly visible from the street.

Inside Your Home

Smoke Detectors

  • Make sure smoke detectors are made and certified by an approved lab.
  • Install smoke detectors on ceilings inside each bedroom and in the hallway on every level.
  • Test detectors at least once per month. Change batteries every six months. 

Fire Extinguishers

  • Ensure that fire extinguishers are approved by an independent testing lab.
  • Place fire extinguishers in easily accessible locations.
  • Teach responsible family members where they are located and how to use them.
  • Remember the word P-A-S-S: 
    • Pull the pin.
    • Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.
    • Squeeze the trigger.
    • Sweep the chemical from side-to-side to extinguish the fire.

Plan for Evacuation

  • Develop and practice an evacuation plan for your home. Your plan should include:
  • A floor plan with all escape routes.
  • Easily accessible exits for young children, seniors, and persons with disabilities (Locate their rooms as close to exits as possible).
  • A list of valuables to take in an emergency (Store them together in one location, if possible).
  • A place to reunite after evacuation.
  • The location of the animal shelter or other sites that house pets.
  • Work with neighbors to assist:
    • People with special needs.
    • People who need transportation to other sites.
  • Work with local emergency officials to identify:
    • Several routes out of your neighborhood.
    • Likely evacuation sites.
  • If you need information for evacuating your pets, please contact: