Help firefighters decide what to save in wildland fire

Local wildfire prevention specialists know exactly where the fire hot spots are, and how close they are to your home.

What they don’t know is what you would have them save first, whether it’s unique animal habitat, remote utilities or a breathtaking grove of oaks.

That’s why the local non-profit Fire Safe Council, Fire Safe Sonoma, has organized a series of community meetings that will assist in preparing for and mitigating wildfire threats. The information will be used to create a County-wide Wildfire Protection Plan, or CCWP.

Wednesday night community members can attend at the Santa Rosa Fire Training Tower on College Avenue.

“We have a good idea of where the risks are from fire hazard severity zone maps, but what we don’t know is what the community wants us to protect,” said Caerleon Safford, Fire Safe Sonoma executive director.

A survey of those who participate in the meetings will help the local fire safe council assess “community value” placed on wildland areas, as well as utilities infrastructure, commercial buildings and historic or unique buildings.

The CWPP, which has received significant funding from Bureau of Land Management and Fireman’s Fund Insurance, is intended to minimize fire risks in what’s commonly called the wildland-urban interface, residential areas where homes are built against wooded or wildland areas that are usually vulnerable to fire.

Safford said the plan is not a regulatory document nor does is guarantee funding, but it will help her group get better access to grant funds and ensure that priority projects are identified.

The meetings also give fire officials the opportunity to discuss such things as defensible space, steps residents can take to prepare and protect homes that are surrounded by wildland areas.

“Defensible space is the single greatest item that a homeowner can implement to protect their property from wildfire,” said Chuck Abshear, operations division Chief with Cal Fire in Sonoma County.

“If we can implement the defensible space component of the CWPP, it will result in reduced property losses due to fires,” he said.

Here's the meeting schedule:

Santa Rosa Fire Training Tower, 2126 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. Wed. May 28, 6:30-8:30 PM. For communities served by the following fire departments: Bennett Valley, Rincon Valley and Santa Rosa.

Wilmar Fire Station: 3825 Bodega Ave, Petaluma. Thurs. May 29, 6:30-8:30 PM. For communities served by: Lakeville; Petaluma; Rancho Adobe; Rohnert Park; San Antonio; Two Rock; Wilmar.

Glen Ellen Fire Station: 13445 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen. Fri. May 30, 7-9 PM. For communities served by these fire departments: Eldridge; Glen Ellen; Kenwood; Mayacamas; Schell Vista; Sonoma; Valley of Moon.

Russian River Fire, 14100 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville. Mon. June 2, 6:30-8:30 PM. For: Annapolis, Camp Meeker; Cazadero; Forestville; Fort Ross; Monte Rio; Occidental; Guerneville; Rio Nido; Timber Cove.

Healdsburg Fire Station, 601 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg. Weds. June 4, 7-9 PM. For communities served by: Cloverdale; Geyserville; Healdsburg; Knights Valley; Mountain; Rincon Valley; Sotoyome; Windsor.