Red Flag Alerts

Brush Clearing Guidelines

Firescape Garden Guidelines

Prevention, Preparing, Planning

Evacuation

Fighting a Fire

Emergency Numbers

Traffic Safety

Red Flag Alerts

In 1970, Santa Barbara County adopted a statewide fire alert system called the Red Flag Alert Program. Fire agencies in Santa Barbara County work in cooperation with the National Weather Service to predict weather conditions that increase the potential for catastrophic wildfires. Weather data is collected daily at several locations in and around Santa Barbara County Data is used to forecast fire weather conditions and the degree of fire danger each day. If local conditions are forecasted to attain established criteria levels, with the potential for catastrophic wildfire, the "Red Flag Alert Program" is used to prepare fire agencies and the public for this heightened wildfire situation. The following is the intent of the plan:

1. Heighten the public's awareness during periods when weather conditions increase the risk of wildfire.
2. Provide additional fire protection measures when the potential for hazardous wildfire conditions occur.

Red Flag Criteria

Effective this fire season, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard will be using the new Red Flag criteria. The Red Flag criteria requires dry fuels and any one of the following:

1. Relative humidity of 15% or less with either sustained winds of 25 mph or greater or frequent guests of 25 mph or greater for a duration of 6 hours or more.
2. Relative humidity of 10% or less for the extended period of ten hours or more.
3. Widespread and/or significant dry lightning.

Red Flag Actions

The following actions shall be taken when a Red Flag order is issued:

1. Local fire agencies alert the news media and inform them of the details of the plan.
2. Local fire stations will raise a symbolic red flag at each affected station to make the public aware of the increased fire risk.
3. Local fire agencies will patrol high-risk areas and attempt to contact homeowners regarding the increased fire risk.
4. All burn permits and burning will be banned.
5. Fire agencies would notify any participating agencies, such as Public Works, Sheriff, Police, and participating homeowner associations will increase staffing and patrol depending on resources and funding.
6. In extreme conditions, closures may be invoked on private and public lands, including roadways. In this case, all people except owners will be kept out of the closed area.

What You Should Do During A Red Flag Alert

• Have you "Family Disaster Plan" and "Evacuation Plan" in place.
• Keep up-to-date thorough the local media on any emergency condition.
• Stop any activities that have the potential to start a fire such as mowing and chain saw work.
• Collect and confine pets so they can be quickly loaded in the event you must evacuate.
• Have your driver's license or other identification in your vehicle in case of road closures.
• Keep roads accessible in the event of an evacuation by not parking cars along streets.
• Communicate with neighbors to make them aware of the increased fire and safety risk.
• Consider being away from your home during a Red Flag Alert if rapid evacuation is a problem.
• Be aware of suspicious vehicles or people. Write down the license plates of any suspicious vehicles in the area.

 "A Red Flag Alert means to be prepared, not to panic"