Firefighters in Atascadero want to make sure the community is ready for wildfire.
On Saturday, the fire department is hosting “Defend Atascadero,” a community wildfire preparedness event.
Fire officials say the increase in recent catastrophic wildfires across California is an alarming trend.
“The biggest thing that we’re seeing when a fire starts during fire season is ember storms and ember storms tend to land embers in vegetation, wood chips, guerilla hair around the residence and if there’s vegetation close to the home itself, that will start the vegetation right next to the home on fire and eventually igniting the home,” said Capt. Tom Peterson, Atascadero Fire Department.
Over the past five years, there have been nearly 100 brush fires within Atascadero city limits.
The Defend Atascadero event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 4 at Atascadero City Hall, located at 6500 Palma Ave.
Fire officials will discuss how to prepare your home to survive a wildfire, creating defensible space, and evacuation planning.
Firefighters say they’re specifically trying to reach out to people who live on the west side of Atascadero, where there’s the greatest fire hazard.
