Fire Protection
We live in a region subject to wildland fires. First responders come from the Saratoga Fire Department, then Santa Clara County Fire. If needed, they can access mutual aid from CalFire, whose workers are well trained and experienced in wildland fire protection and defense. Our best protection, however, is the preparation we do each year in advance of fire season. If the area around a home is cleared of combustible material (dry grass, brush, combustible plants, woodpiles), and low branches of trees are trimmed off, a home can be protected. A good example of this is shown in this video. If this is not done, firefighters often need to abandon that home and move on to one they can defend.
http://www.sccfd.org/community-education/emergency-preparedness/wildland-urban-interface-preparednesshttp://www.sccfd.org/images/documents/community_education/WUITrifold2018Final1.10.18.pdf
https://sccfiresafe.org/
https://www.sccfiresafe.org/education-outreach/living-with-fire-in-santa-clara-county
http://www.readyforwildfire.org/
Contact me for a copy of a CDF publication about fire-safe plants. It can help you choose landscaping which helps hinder the spread of fire rather than help it.
This ALERT California camera should be useful in wildfire season and interesting when the sky is clear.
