Crime & Safety

Redlands Touts Wildfire Awareness Week: Below-Average Rain This Year

The State of California has designated 70 percent of the City of Redlands within a fire hazard severity zone, Redlands Fire Chief Jeff Frazier said.

The Redlands Fire Department is urging homeowners to take steps to prepare their families and protect their homes as fire season approaches.

Cal Fire has designated May 6-12 as Wildfire Awareness Week this year, and Redlands firefighters are joining the state agency in reminding residents of the need for fuel-free, defensible space around their homes.

"This year, California has experienced below-average rainfall across the State," Redlands Fire Chief Jeff Frazier said in a statement distributed this week. "This lack of rain will cause green grass and vegetation to dry out earlier than normal.

Find out what's happening in Redlands-Loma Lindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"When combined with this summer's high temperatures, the dry vegetation will pose an increasing threat for fire danger," Frazier said. "It only takes one spark to ignite a wildfire."

The State of California has designated 70 percent of the City of Redlands within a fire hazard severity zone, Frazier said.

Find out what's happening in Redlands-Loma Lindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Local fire agencies recommend residents prepare for wildfires by creating 100 feet of defensible space around homes and structures. Individual families should prepare in advance for safely evacuating in the event of fires or other disasters.

The aim of Wildfire Awareness Week is to remind Californians of the dangers that wildfires pose, and to educate them on how to prepare. For more information, visit www.cityofredlands.org/fire or call (909) 798-7600.


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