Wildfire

Know Your Zone

Genasys Protect is an online interactive mapping platform that can be used by residents to determine their evacuation zone and access emergency information. The county is divided into 300+ numerical evacuation zones. We strongly encourage residents to "Know Your Zone" before the next emergency by visiting protect.genasys.com.

During an evacuation, our alerts will reference zone names. While we will aim to include local landmarks, character limits on emergency alerts may prevent us from fully detailing zone boundaries. Additional information will be provided following emergency alerts, utilizing our Current Emergencies page, press releases, and social media posts.

We also recommend downloading the Genasys Protect App on your phone. The app allows you to save specific locations and receive alerts if the status of your selected zone changes. With location services enabled, you’ll also be notified if you enter a zone under a protective order - whether in Del Norte, Humboldt County, Mendocino or any other county using Genasys Protect evacuation zones. Notifications will appear as push alerts via the app. Download the Genasys Protect App for your phone today.

Know the Terms

• Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
• Evacuation Warning: Potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.
• Shelter in Place: Go indoors. Shut and lock doors and windows. Prepare to self-sustain until further notice and/or contacted by emergency personnel for additional direction.

• Sign up for Humboldt Alert emergency notifications.
• Make an emergency plan for your household, including your pets, so that you and your household know what to do, where to go, and what you will need to protect yourselves from flooding.
• Learn and practice evacuation routes and shelter in place plans.
• Have your emergency kit ready to sustain you and your household for at least 2 weeks.
• Print out a Wildfire Evacuation Checklist and keep it in an easy-to-reach spot, like on the fridge, so you can quickly find it if you need to evacuate.
• Consider making plans with friends or family to shelter with them where you may be safer and more comfortable.
• Know your evacuation zone on Genasys Protect is an online interactive mapping platform.
• Know the school, day care and work evacuation plans for all family members.
• Call 9-1-1 to immediately report people using fire in an unsafe or suspicious way.
• Monitor the weather reports provided by your local news, radio and TV stations.
• Always have extra batteries for a battery-operated radio and your cell phone.
• Before lighting a fire, check for fire bans and restrictions. It may be illegal to light a fire due to hot, dry and/or windy weather conditions.
• Pour water or sand on campfires and stir to make sure the fire is completely out. Never leave burning, hot or smoldering campfires.
• Remove rocks and metal that can spark a fire before you mow.
• Keep recreational vehicle trailer chains off the ground to prevent sparks that can cause accidental wildfires.
• Don’t drive or pack recreational vehicles over weeds and grass. Hot vehicle parts can ignite vegetation and start a wildfire.
• Use a spark arrestor on your motorcycle or all-terrain recreational vehicle to prevent accidental wildfires.

Prepare Your Home

• Harden your home to reduce wildfire threats.
• Create a defensible space as a wildfire safety buffer.
• Select fire resistant plants to help prevent the spread of wildfires.

Get Your Agriculture Access Pass

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, Agricultural Commissioner’s Office and Planning & Building Department have established a program through the issuance of an Agricultural Area Access Pass, which may permit qualifying agricultural producers/cultivators and/or commercial livestock operators to gain emergency entrance to evacuation zones, or other restricted areas, to provide feed, water, medical treatment, and other care to large scale commercial livestock, and/or to tend to crops.

The Agricultural Access Pass does not grant authority to the applicant to stay at their residence and/or business when an evacuation order is issued.  Access will not be permitted if conditions are unsafe. Evacuation zones that are safe to enter will be determined by fire personnel in consultation with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) daily. Non-pass holders cannot accompany you to your property. All persons entering restricted areas must have completed the required training and been issued their own pass to gain entry to restricted areas.

Please make every effort to apply prior to an emergency. The goal of this program is to have businesses/operations pre-register for access before an incident occurs. 

• If you become trapped by fire, call 9-1-1 and tell them where you are. Turn on the lights in your home, or vehicle headlights and emergency flashers so rescuers know where to find you. Help may not be able to reach you or come quickly. That’s why evacuating early is very important.
• Prepare for wildfire evacuation. Park your vehicle facing the street with at least half a tank of gas so you can leave quickly.
• If you smell smoke or feel afraid, don’t wait! You don’t need to wait for official orders to evacuate.
• Follow evacuation instructions given by emergency officials.
• Do not drive trailers or other large vehicles if you are not comfortable with driving them.
• After a wildfire evacuation let your designated contact know as soon as possible that you are safe and where you are located.
• Follow local emergency response updates available on a cellphone or radio.

• Use an N95 mask to protect yourself from smoke inhalation.
• Remain indoors with windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter.
• Avoid vigorous physical activity.
• Create a space in your home with filtered air, by using a portable high-efficiency or HEPA air cleaner while keeping doors and windows closed. This can be a room where you spend a lot of time, such as a bedroom. More information about air filters and air cleaners can be found at Fact Sheet on Indoor Air Filtration. 
• If you can stay cool without them, avoid using a whole-house fan or a swamp cooler with an outside air intake.
• Avoid using indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces. Avoid combustion sources inside the home such as candles and incense that could further degrade indoor air quality.
• Choose a room to close off from outside air and set up a portable air cleaner or filter to keep the air in this room clean even when it’s smoky in the rest of the building and outdoors.
• If you are not ordered to evacuate but smoky conditions exist, stay inside in a safe location or go to a community building where smoke levels are lower.
• Use high efficiency filters in your central air conditioning system to capture fine particles from smoke. If your system has fresh air intake, set the system to “recirculate” mode and close the outdoor intake damper.
•  If you or your family member has a heart or lung disease (such as asthma), consult your doctor to have a plan in case the smoke worsens the symptoms. Have an adequate supply of medications on hand (5 days or more).
• Visit the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District, who provides updates on the air quality for the North Coast.

Returning Home Post-Wildfire

• Return home only when emergency officials say it is safe.
• Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris and live embers. Hot debris can burn you, children, pets and livestock.
• Wear protective gear. Leather gloves and thick-soled shoes.
• Use caution when entering burned areas. Hazards may still exist, including hot spots that can ignite or trees that can fall without warning.
• Look out for power poles that may be unstable due to the fire. Stay away from downed power lines and report them to 9-1-1 or the power company’s emergency number.
• Avoid walking on smoldering surfaces. The ground may contain heat pockets that can cause severe injury or spark another fire.
• Watch for hazards on the ground. Ash pits, charred trees, smoldering debris and live embers. Mark them for safety.
• Check the attic. If you see smoke or fire, get out of the house and call 911.
• Check the roof and gutters. If possible, wet them down to completely to put out any smoldering sparks or embers. 
• Photograph property damage and inventory property. Contact your insurance company for assistance.

Safety Precautions

The danger doesn’t end when the wildfire is extinguished. The aftermath can present various hazards, from flash flooding and debris flows to structural instability and compromised trees. Here’s a comprehensive guide to navigate this critical period safely:

• Await official clearance: Do not return to your home or business premises until it’s declared safe by emergency officials.
• Beware of flash floods: Wildfires can significantly increase the risk of flash floods, particularly in areas near burned forests or upstream from your location. Avoid these areas to prevent encounters with rapid water and debris flows.
• Emergency communications: Keep a battery-powered radio handy to stay updated with emergency broadcasts, weather alerts, and flash flood warnings.
• Evacuation readiness: Make sure your family is well-acquainted with the evacuation plan, emphasizing the importance of quick and orderly evacuation if needed.

On-site Safety Precautions Post Wildfire

• Inspect surroundings with caution: Be extremely cautious around trees, power poles, and other structures that may have been weakened by the fire. High winds can easily topple such compromised structures.
• Maintain a fire watch: Regularly check your property for any signs of residual fires, like smoke or hidden embers, especially in concealed areas like roof gutters.
• Gas safety check: Before conducting a thorough inspection of your property, sniff for gas leaks. If you detect the smell of gas, do not attempt to turn on the power; leave this to professionals.
• Safe inspection practices: When inspecting your home, use a battery-powered flashlight. Ensure it is turned on outside before entering to avoid potential ignition of any leaked gasses.

Utility & Consumption Safety

• Water use caution: Until authorities confirm the safety of tap water, refrain from using it for drinking or cooking. Wildfires can damage water supply systems, leading to contamination.
• Well inspection: If your property relies on well water, and the well has been exposed to fire, have it inspected by a certified professional to assess and address any damages.
• Food safety: Discard any food items that have been exposed to fire elements, such as heat, smoke, or contaminated water, to avoid health risks.
• Electrical check: If there’s no electricity upon your return, check if the main breaker is turned on. If the power remains off, contact your utility provider for further assistance.
• Propane & heating oil systems: For homes with propane tanks or oil heating systems, shut off the valves and consult your supplier for an inspection before resuming use. Safety checks are crucial to prevent leaks or other hazards.
• Solar power systems: If your home is equipped with solar panels, have them inspected by a licensed technician to ensure that the system is safe and operational post-wildfire.

• Wear a tight-fitting disposable respirator (such as a N-95 or P-100 respirator mask) to protect your lungs.
• Wear goggles, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks to avoid skin contact.
• Mist lightly with water and then sweep gently with a broom or wet mop. Direct ash-filled water to ground areas and away from the storm drains. Don't use leaf blowers!
• Collect ash into a plastic bag and dispose in the regular trash.
• Inside your home, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or, if possible, similar industrial ones with disposable collection filter bags. Misting lightly with water and then sweeping gently with a broom is another option.
• Take your car to the car wash.
• Wash off toys.
• Clean ash off pets.