Santa Clara County Fire agencies warn residents of the extreme danger of fireworks
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA – In time for the Fourth of July holiday, fire agencies from throughout Santa Clara County have partnered to remind residents that fireworks are illegal, dangerous and can result in fires and injuries that are easily preventable. Residents will incur fines for using, possessing, storing, or selling illegal fireworks. Santa Clara County’s ‘social host’ Fireworks Ordinance holds property owners responsible for illegal use of fireworks on their property.
This year, the danger of fireworks-caused fires is extreme. “Vegetation is drought-stressed, dry and primed to burn,” said Santa Clara County Acting Fire Chief Brian Glass. “It is absolutely critical that residents understand the extreme risk of fire at a time of the year when the weather is hot and vegetation is susceptible. We know that one spark can have disastrous consequences.”
A countywide public outreach and education campaign began June 21 to educate residents that when it comes to fireworks, “[It’s] Not Worth It” and can result in dangerous fires and serious injuries. Cities throughout the County will focus efforts on enforcement and residents are encouraged to report illegal fireworks use through the process determined by their home city or town.
“The Bay Area saw a dramatic increase in illegal fireworks activity during this time last year, resulting in over 30 preventable fireworks-related fires in San José alone,” said Robert Sapien Jr., San José Fire Department Fire Chief. “Deciding to use illegal fireworks is also deciding to put your neighbor’s lives and property at risk. Under current draught conditions, illegal fireworks put the entire community at risk. We’re asking for assistance keeping our community safe by urging residents to comply with fireworks bans and encouraging community members to report illegal fireworks activity using our online reporting tool to assist the City with taking enforcement actions.”
National Fire Protection Association reports that fireworks start an average of 19,500 fires per year, 59% of which were reported as brush, grass or forest fires. These fires caused an average of five deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and an average of $105 million in direct property damage.
This Fourth of July holiday also comes at a unique time when residents are enjoying a return to normal activities and social events. Residents are encouraged to continue to follow current Public Health orders and recommendations, find safe activities and leave fireworks to the professionals by visiting an authorized public display.
If there is an active fire or medical emergency, residents should call 9-1-1.
Now is the time to prepare for wildfire with READY, SET, GO
SANTA CLARA COUNTY– Fire season has arrived in Santa Clara County, a designation that has seemingly come earlier and stays longer with each year in California. With Red Flag Warnings persisting into Tuesday, local fire agencies have begun seasonal increases in staffing and resources for vegetation fires and on days where fire danger is elevated.
Although wildfires have long been a part of the California landscape, severe drought conditions and a changing climate have caused the dry seasons to become much longer and much more severe. Drought-stressed vegetation has had little to no opportunity to recover during the winter months and the risk of wildfires this year is high.
Recognizing the need for extensive and coordinated pre-fire management and preparedness efforts, agencies including Santa Clara County Fire Department, CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit, San José Fire Department, Palo Alto Fire Department, Milpitas Fire Department, the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, Santa Clara County Parks, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) have partnered to urge residents to do their part to prepare for wildfire. “Whether it is the safety of our residents, the preservation of our open spaces or protection against unhealthy air quality, our agencies have a common goal to prevent and plan for wildfires – but we can’t do it alone,” said Brian Glass, Acting Fire Chief of Santa Clara County Fire Department. “Every community in California is vulnerable to wildfire. As we bolster our staffing and wildfire capabilities, we urge all citizens to also be ready, be prepared and be engaged,” added CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit Chief Jake Hess.
Through the READY, SET, GO wildfire preparedness program, residents can, and should, take the steps to prepare their own home and family for wildfire. The READY, SET, GO program is a nationally recognized program that outlines preparedness steps like creating defensible space and hardening your home to create a buffer around your home and eliminate opportunities for embers to enter spaces in and around your home. The program also provides information on preparing emergency supplies, registering to receive emergency alerts and planning for an evacuation.
Fire Chief Robert Sapien, Jr. from the San José Fire Department issued a warning against the use of fireworks as we approach the Fourth of July holiday. “The 2020 wildfire season showed us just how vulnerable many parts of Santa Clara County are to the impacts of wildfire. 2021 has brought extreme drought conditions and we are already seeing high fire activity throughout the County. With significantly dryer conditions than in years past, the threat of wildfires caused by illegal fireworks cannot be overlooked by residents – we need everyone to help keep our homes and community safe from wildfire by committing to stop the use of illegal fireworks.”
Wildfires do not recognize the boundaries of cities, towns, neighborhoods or property lines. With many residents in wildland urban interface areas throughout the County, it’s most beneficial for communities and neighborhoods to work together in their preparedness efforts. Agencies like the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council are available to provide programs and support for groups. “Firewise communities, residential participation in our county wide chipping program and preparedness workshops help residents reduce flammable vegetation and hazards while building neighborhood communication and collaboration for wildfire readiness,” said Eugenia Rendler, Managing Director of the Council.
For more information on the program and services noted above, please visit the following resource pages:
Santa Clara County Fire Department READY, SET, GO:
sccfd.org/rsg
CAL FIRE Ready for Wildfire:
readyforwildfire.org
San Jose Fire Department:
sjfd.org
Santa Clara County FireSafe Council:
sccfiresafe.org
Bay Area Air Quality Management District Wildfire Program:
baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/wildfire-air-quality-response-program/wildfire-safety
Santa Clara Valley Water District:
valleywater.org
Santa Clara County Fire Department will be conducting firefighter training exercises at the vacant pre-demolition residence located at 94 Hernandez Avenue in Los Gatos. Training will begin on Saturday, October 24 and is anticipated to continue for approximately two weeks. In accordance with Town hours of construction, training will start no earlier than 8:00 am on weekdays and 9:00 am on weekends and holidays. No live fire exercises will be conducted, but the training may involve theatrical style smoke machines to simulate fire conditions.
Use of the pre-demolition building, also known as an “acquired structure”, is planned and permitted through an agreement with the property owner and the Town of Los Gatos, and is of great benefit to our firefighters who serve Los Gatos and surrounding communities.
To learn more about our acquired structure training and how we prepare a property for use, please view the video below.
We thank our Los Gatos neighbors for their patience and cooperation and are proud to serve you. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at publicinfo@sccfd.org or (408)378-4010.
Santa Clara County Fire Department reminds residents that fireworks are illegal, dangerous and can result in fires and injuries that are easily preventable.
Every year, hospital emergency rooms in the United States see over 9,000 fireworks-related injuries.
National Fire Protection Association reports that fireworks start an average of 19,500 fires per year, 59% of which were reported as brush, grass or forest fires. These fires caused an average of five deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and an average of $105 million in direct property damage.
Fireworks are illegal in Santa Clara County.
Residents will incur fines for using, possessing, storing, or selling illegal fireworks. Santa Clara County’s ‘social host’ Fireworks Ordinance holds property owners responsible for illegal use of fireworks on their property.
During this time of the year, when the weather is hot and grasses and woodlands surrounding our communities are very dry, it is important that our residents remember that one spark could have disastrous consequences.
This year, the Fourth of July holiday also comes at a unique time when county-wide measures remain in place to protect our residents and responders from COVID-19.
Residents are encouraged to follow current Public Health orders and recommendations, find safe alternatives and household activities and ensure that your Fourth of July celebrations do not include the use of fireworks.
If there is an active fire or medical emergency, residents should call 9-1-1.
Residents wanting to report fireworks should call their local law enforcement agency.
Residents of the City of San José can report fireworks online at sanjoseca.gov/fireworks or by calling 408-535-5600.
Fire season has arrived in California. Santa Clara County has already experienced unseasonably hot days and dry conditions, and fuel moistures are low, making the risk of wildfire an early-summer reality.
Now is the time to prepare your home and family for wildfire.
Santa Clara County Fire Department reminds residents to get SET for wildfire by preparing for the possibility of having to evacuate. Take the following actions now, and ensure they are familiar to everyone in your household:
Create a Wildfire Action Plan
Create an evacuation plan that includes:
- A designated emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. This is critical to determine who has safely evacuated from the affected area.
- Several different escape routes from your home and community. Practice these often so everyone in your family is familiar in case of emergency.
- Have an evacuation plan for pets and large animals such as horses and other livestock.
Make a Family Communication Plan that designates an out-of-area friend or relative as a point of contact to act as a single source of communication among family members in case of separation.
Assemble an Emergency Supply Kit
Put together your emergency supply kit long before a wildfire or other disaster occurs and keep it easily accessible so you can take it with you when you have to evacuate.
- Include a 3-day supply of non-perishable food and water, as well as clothing and sanitation supplies
- Be sure to include supplies for everyone in your household, including pets
- Include copies of important documents, such as passports and birth certificates
- If you have essential prescriptions or special medications, keep a supply of them in your kit
Always keep a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed and handy in case of a sudden evacuation at night.
Protect What is Important to You
Ensure your homeowners policy is up-to-date and you know what is covered.
If you rent your home, get renters insurance to cover replacement of personal items, furniture and valuables lost during a fire.
Make a home inventory to document the contents of your home before a fire occurs.
Use your smartphone to video your belongings. Keep your inventory & photos stored outside the home or in the cloud.
Visit sccfd.org/rsg for more information on the Ready, Set, Go program and how you can prepare your home and family for wildfire.
Fire season is our California reality and is approaching quickly. Precipitation has been below normal and recent spring rains have only served to grow our local grass crop. Due to these factors and the weather outlook into the early summer months, above normal significant wildfire potential is predicted for Northern California as we move into June (NOPS Predictive Services).
Now is the time to prepare your home and family for wildfire.
Santa Clara County Fire Department reminds residents that being READY for wildfire starts with maintaining an adequate defensible space and by hardening your home.
Defensible Space is the buffer you create by removing dead plants, grass and weeds. Home Hardening means keeping up on maintenance items and using and installing materials on your home that can help it to withstand flying embers.
Even under the current shelter-in-place order, residents can, and should, prepare their homes for wildfire.
Take simple steps to harden your home:
- Clean your roof and gutters of dead leaves and debris
- Install metal mesh screening over vents in eaves and attic
- Remove anything stored under decks or porches and screen in those areas
- Trim trees and shrubs around driveways and access roads to allow fire and emergency vehicles to access your home. Make sure your address is clearly visible from the road.
Defensible Space begins at the edge of your home. Ensure that the area that extends from 0-5 feet from the home is completely free of anything that could catch fire.
- Move any flammable materials away from wall exteriors – mulch, flammable plants, wood piles, etc.
- Limb trees so they do not hang over the home.
Ensure that your defensible space extends out 100 feet from the home
- Remove or mow annual grasses
- remove any dead or dying plants
- keep separation between shrubs and tree canopies
Visit sccfd.org/rsg for more information on the Ready, Set, Go program and how you can prepare your home and family for wildfire.
UPDATE: Thursday, June 4, 2020
Effective Thursday, June 4th at 1:00pm, our Fire Prevention office will be open during regular business hours (M-F, 8am-4:30pm). If your fire prevention needs require an in-person visit to our office, please note the following:
- No in person meetings or over-the-counter plan review is available
- Only 1 person will be admitted to the office lobby at a time, social distancing is required.
- All visitors must wear a non-medical face mask or covering.
- We ask that you do not visit if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, have recently tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in contact with anyone else who is positive or symptomatic.
All in-person community programs and events remain suspended until further notice. This includes fire station tours and visits by the public to fire stations.
A limited offering of online courses are available to the public an can be found at https://sccfd.eventbrite.com
UPDATE: Tuesday, May 12, 2020
In accordance with the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department orders and recommendations, and out of caution for our residents and employees, the following measures remain in place:
- Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) administrative offices (Headquarters and Fire Prevention) are closed until further notice. All non-essential employees are working remotely from home. Mail and commercial deliveries are still accepted, delivery instructions are posted at each site.
- All community programs and events are suspended until further notice. This includes fire station tours and visits by the public to fire stations.
- Non-mandated and non-essential engine company activities, including some fire and life safety inspections and multi-agency training are suspended
For assistance, please call 408-378-4010 or email info@sccfd.org and a staff member will return your call within one business day.
We ask that the public continues to do their part by following the Santa Clara County Public Health shelter-in-place order.
RESOURCES
If you are in need of services or resources related to the impacts of COVID-19, if your regular services have been interrupted, or if you would like to volunteer to help, you can find resources available through the following organizations:
Silicon Valley Strong – Santa Clara County residents can use the Silicon Valley Strong website to locate resources, request resources not yet available, and to find volunteer opportunities throughout Santa Clara County. https://siliconvalleystrong.org
Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council (SASCC) – Non-profit organization that serves the needs of the senior community with resources like food, household items, transportation to medical appointments, and reliable sources of information. https://www.sascc.org • (408) 868-1257
West Valley Community Services (WVCS) – WVCS is a community-based agency that provides a continuum of basic needs, family support services and housing services including: information and referrals, food pantry, clothing, transitional housing, affordable housing, financial assistance, family support and case management services. WVCS serves the West Valley Communities of Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, West San Jose and the surrounding mountain regions. https://www.wvcommunityservices.org • (408) 255-8033
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley – Second Harvest of Silicon Valley works to ensure that anyone who needs a healthy meal can get one. Second Harvest distributes nutritious food to nearly every neighborhood in Silicon Valley, leveraging every available food resource, and collaborating with people and organizations. https://www.shfb.org
Bill Wilson Center – Bill Wilson Center provides services and programs that focus on housing, education, counseling, and advocacy for children, adolescents, and adults. https://www.billwilsoncenter.org • Crisis Hotline: 408-850-6125
Rebuilding Together – Rebuilding Together provides home modifications to improve safety, accessibility and mobility for lower income homeowners. Rebuilding Together is continuing to offer emergency repairs, specifically if someone is impacted by the COVID-19 and has no hot water or no heat. Other emergency repairs will be taken on a case-by-case basis. https://rebuildingtogether.org • 408-578-9519
Health Trust – Health Trust ensures that health related grants, policies, and services exist to help give everyone the opportunity to be healthy. Their mission is to build health equity in Silicon Valley for vulnerable populations by aligning their funder, provider, and advocate roles to maximize their impact within the community. https://healthtrust.org • 408-513-8700
UPDATE: Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Effective Tuesday, March 17, Santa Clara County Fire Department administrative offices (Headquarters and Fire Prevention) will be closed until further notice. All non-essential employees are working remotely from home.
For assistance, please call 408-378-4010 or email info@sccfd.org. We will return your call within one business day.
We ask that the public continues to do their part by following the Santa Clara County Public Health shelter-in-place order.
Published Friday, March 13, 2020
Santa Clara County Fire Department is committed to protecting our most vulnerable populations and to continue to provide for the health and safety of our communities.
We understand that our personnel are the critical first line of response for residents during any crisis, and our goal throughout the emerging novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is to keep our responders healthy so they can continue to respond and support our communities.
In accordance with the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department orders and recommendations, and out of caution for our residents and employees, Santa Clara County Fire Department has implemented the following protective measures:
- Suspension of all community programs and events until further notice. This includes fire station tours and visits by the public to fire stations.
- Suspension of all non-mandated and non-essential engine company activities, including some fire and life safety inspections and multi-agency training.
- Reduction of in-person staff meetings to essential personnel and call-in only.
We ask that the public continues to do their part by following Public Health guidelines to slow the spread of the virus.
For inquiries regarding the status of a scheduled meeting or inspection, please call our headquarters office at 408-378-4010 or email info@sccfd.org.
For more information and guidance regarding novel coronavirus in Santa Clara County, please visit http://sccphd.org/coronavirus
With winter weather and holiday travel beginning, fire departments in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties have partnered to promote a Safe Driving awareness campaign aimed at Highway 17.
With over 66,000 people commuting over the mountain highway each day, Highway 17 provides a vital link between Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. Accidents result in injuries and significant traffic delays. According to the California Highway Patrol, most collisions on Highway 17 are a direct result of unsafe speeds, following too closely and distracted driving. It is imperative drivers Slow Down, Pay Attention, and Watch for Responders. Recognize that speed limits are established for ideal driving conditions, not when the road is wet, congested or dark. Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, and avoid the use of cell phones, and other devices that distract from driving safely. Finally, when accidents do occur, watch for and listen to first responders.
The ‘Safe on 17’ campaign includes a series of three videos to remind the public of the danger of driving Highway 17 too fast, while distracted, and in the presence of first responders. The campaign videos and logos can be found at www.sccfd.org/safeon17 and are available to be shared.
Santa Clara County Fire Department will continue its long standing tradition of supporting local holiday toy programs by collecting new unwrapped toys at all of its Fire Stations and Headquarters office.
Toys collected will benefit families throughout Santa Clara County by supplying much needed toys to programs including Campbell Community Toy Program, Community Services Agency of Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, Hope’s Corner, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Santa Paws and the Valley Medical Center Pediatric Unit.
Please join in on the spirit of holiday giving. Collections begin on Saturday, November 23 and toys will be accepted until Monday, December 23. Specific needs this year include toys and items appropriate for teenagers, who tend to be the most underserved in toy drives, but are equally deserving of something to brighten their holiday. Please consider donating sports equipment, balls, and activity-based items such as art supplies. Gift cards and cash donations are also appreciated.
Find the fire station closest to you here.
