Palo Alto Regional Fire Status And Online Resources

Press release from the City of Palo Alto:

August 21, 2020

Regional Fire Status & Online Resources

DIAL 9-1-1 FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY.The Palo Alto Fire Department urges the community to dial 9-1-1 if you see fire in your area. We understand that smoke can be heavy at times, this is due to smoke from fires outside of Palo Alto. Please do not call 9-1-1 due to poor air quality.

This webpage will act as a single resource to share details as new information becomes available and if there are specific impacts to Palo Alto residents.

With several different fire incidents occurring regionally, it may be difficult to know where to find fire-related details, stay informed, and how to plan ahead. Our regional partners such as Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County and CAL Fire have established several online resources to help inform and track fire developments.

This webpage is organized by the following sections:

1. Fire Status Updates: Status updates and online resources on the Santa Cruz Mountain and San Mateo County area fires called the CZU Lightning Complex Fire and the SCU Lightning Complex Fire and related fire information. Current City service updates due to fire impacts, smoke, poor air quality and more.
2. Ways the City Will Inform Residents of Pre-Evacuation Warnings and Official Evacuation Orders: Information on how the City will inform residents if in fact there is an evacuation order.
3. Wildfire Preparedness: Preparedness resources and ways to prepare for wildfires and potential fire evacuations.
4. Stay Informed: Online tools to track fires, and ways to sign up for emergency alerts.

Fire Status & Online Resources to Track Regional Fires

REGIONAL FIRE UPDATE- AUGUST 21, 2020

Online Resources National Fire Situation Map: Track all fires

Santa Clara County’s Office of Emergency Management: Updates on the wildfires including evacuation orders, shelter resources, air quality reports.

• Cal Fire CZU Twitter account serving Santa Cruz County and San Mateo County: Updates on the CZU Lightning Complex Fire
• CAL FIRE SCU Twitter account serving Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, western Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties: Track the SCU Lightning Complex Fire
• National Weather Service Bay Area Twitter account: Track local weather details provided by the National Weather Service
• Air Quality Resources: Track local air quality here and here

Ways Residents will be Informed of Pre-Evacuation Warnings & Official Evacuation Orders

NOTE: There are currently no evacuation orders in effect. This section is to share the process so that potentially impacted residents have an understanding of the steps involved and how you will be informed.

PLEASE OBEY ANY EVACUATION ORDER SHOULD ONE BE ISSUED, SO EMERGENCY PERSONNEL CAN BATTLE THE FIRES AND NOT BE DIVERTED TO RESCUE OPERATIONS

If there are official evacuation orders in Palo Alto, here is what to expect:

1. City of Palo Alto will send out a pre-evacuation WARNING through Nextdoor, Nixle and via social media (Twitter and Facebook). Santa Clara County may also send a pre-evacuation warning.
2. Santa Clara County will send an official evacuation order through AlertSCC to impacted residents.
3. City of Palo Alto will send an Emergency Alert reminder reinforcing the County’s order.

In addition, the City will share regular updates on this webpage, via social media and through Nextdoor and Nixle. (See sign-ups and details below on ways to follow the City on social media.)

Wildfire Evacuation Preparedness

Preparing in advance of being asked to evacuate increases the safety of residents and the public safety-first responders working hard to protect you. The fires burning throughout California are stretching fire personal statewide. Please help ensure you are ready to go if you are asked to evacuate.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN EVACTUATION (PDF)

Go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/wildfire for additional safety tips and to prepare.

Stay Informed

• City of Palo Alto Social Media Accounts: As updates are available on the CZU and SCU Lightning Complex fires, we will share updates on social media.
• Follow the City on Twitter, Facebook and Nextdoor. Sign-up for Santa Clara County Emergency Alerts. Follow the Palo Alto Police on Twitter and sign-up for Nixle.
• Sign-up for the City’s newsletter at www.cityofpaloalto.org/newslettersignup

This press release was produced by the City of Palo Alto. The views expressed here are the author’s own.