Santa Barbara County officials are asking residents to do their part to prepare for wildfires as California enters high fire season. 

With a high probability of large wildfires on the Central Coast during high fire season, officials and local leaders gathered on Monday to discuss how Santa Barbara residents can prepare for an emergency. 

Mark Hartwig, chief of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, said they are putting more resources on every call. 

“We’re going to dispatch the most resources that we possibly can to each vegetation fire reported within the county,” Hartwig said. “What we found is that if we over-respond, and then we peel back units as needed and send them back to be ready where they’re needed, that’s the right way to deal with the situations that we have right now.”

Hartwig said that one of the biggest things they learned from the Los Angeles County fires in January is how challenging evacuations are for local communities. 

“If you’re waiting to see fire or smell smoke, or you’re waiting to be told to leave, you’re likely waiting too long,” Hartwig said.

Residents are advised to prepare a go-bag with a week’s worth of medications, important documents, clothing, pet food, personal items and anything else that will be needed while evacuated.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said families should prepare now for how they would evacuate in the case of an evacuation warning. Those with large animals or family members with mobility challenges should leave upon getting an evacuation warning.

“In the event of a large or rapidly moving fire, do not wait for us to knock on your door,” Brown said. “If at any time you do not feel safe, leave immediately.”

During evacuation orders, deputies will go door to door notifying residents and helping those who need assistance. Deputies might use a special siren if there is a need for rapid evacuation. Once an area has been evacuated, deputies will patrol the area to ensure homes and businesses aren’t looted, Brown said. 

David Neels, chief of the Montecito Fire Protection District, said they’ve committed to sending out as much help as possible to other areas in the state dealing with wildfires. 

“When our firefighters respond out of county to assist, they gain priceless experience that can be directly applied to future incidents back here at home,” Neels said.

He added that local fire officials stay in close contact with the National Weather Service in order to have enough staffing during critical weather conditions.

Santa Barbara County Second District Supervisor Laura Capps said the Palisades and Eaton fires were a terrifying wake-up call. She encouraged residents to connect with their neighbors and look out for one another when an emergency strikes.

“​​As strong as this team is and the many, many others who help keep us safe in times of emergencies, studies show that they can’t be everywhere, and studies show that in a state of emergency, you’re two to five times more likely to be helped by your neighbor,” Capps said.

To make homes more defensible to wildfires, Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann advised residents to clean out their gutters, install fine-mesh screens over the vents, and to remove anything flammable from within 5 feet of a home. 

“Wildfire preparedness is not just a responsibility of the brave firefighters behind us,” Hartmann said. “It is a responsibility of all of us. The hard truth is this: In the face of a fast-moving fire, firefighters may have to make difficult choices about which houses they can defend. They will prioritize those that have the greatest chance of surviving with their help.”

Aeron Arlin Genet, executive director of the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, said residents should also prepare for unhealthy air conditions during fire season.

While everyone is at risk for health conditions caused by poor air, Genet said children, the elderly, pregnant individuals and people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions are the most susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution. 

During times of dangerous air quality, residents are advised to stay inside and should prepare a clean-air room in their homes by keeping doors and windows closed, replacing old leaky doors and windows that let in air, and using caulking to seal openings. 

Air purifiers also are recommended, and Genet said residents can make their own air purifier using a box fan and a MERV 13 air filter. 

She also said that masking is not enough to protect people from harmful air quality. 

“The filters have to be well fit and used appropriately for them to actually take effect, and we don’t want anyone to have the false sense of protection by putting on an N95 mask and going outside,” Genet said. “They’re obviously a useful tool if you have to go outside, but ultimately we recommend not using them and just limiting any outdoor activity, if you can.”

All officials recommended that residents sign up for emergency alerts at ReadySBC.org, validate information, update it if they’ve moved, and select how they would prefer to be contacted during an emergency. 

Here are more ways to stay informed before, during and after a wildfire.