The City of Folsom is using National Wildfire Awareness Month in May to push residents in wildland-urban interface areas to take concrete steps to protect their properties from fire risk. City officials are urging homeowners to create defensible space around their homes, use fire-resistant building materials, and develop evacuation plans—measures designed to safeguard properties where vegetation meets development.
Folsom's wildfire preparedness campaign centers on its "Ready, Set, Go! – Wildfire Preparedness" guidance, which targets residents living in and near the city's wildland-urban interface zones. The initiative emphasizes two primary strategies: creating defensible space and "hardening" homes against fire.
"Creating defensible space and hardening your home are two of the most effective ways to protect your property from wildfire," Folsom Fire Chief Ken Cusano told the Folsom Times.
Defensible space refers to a cleared area around a home, free of flammable materials and vegetation, that reduces the risk of fire reaching the property. The city's guidance instructs residents to remove dry brush, dead plants, and combustible materials from around structures to create a buffer between homes and surrounding wildland fuels. This cleared zone can slow or stop the spread of flames and provide firefighters with safer access to defend properties.
Home hardening involves using wildfire-resistant building materials and landscaping to prevent flames from touching structures. The city recommends fire-resistant plants and landscaping choices that reduce ignition risk while maintaining curb appeal. These measures can include installing ember-resistant vents, using non-combustible roofing materials, and replacing wood fencing near the home with fire-resistant alternatives.
"Unfortunately, wildfires are a part of life in California, but there are steps we can all take to reduce our risk and increase our resiliency," Chief Cusano told the Folsom Times.
Beyond physical property modifications, Folsom officials are directing residents to build written wildfire action plans that include evacuation routes, emergency contacts, and safety procedures understood by all household members. The city advises families to prepare "Go Bags" for each member with essentials such as water, food, medications, and important documents for use during evacuation.
The city is also urging residents to sign up for emergency alerts and safety notifications through its alert system, ensuring they receive critical information during wildfire events. Chief Cusano emphasized the importance of advance preparation: "We want residents to be proactive—have a wildfire action plan, know your evacuation routes, and sign up for emergency alerts before a fire starts, not during one," he told the Folsom Times.
The urgency behind Folsom's campaign reflects California's ongoing wildfire reality. "It's not a matter of if a wildfire will impact our region, but when, and the work you do now around your home can make the difference between a house that survives and one that doesn't," Chief Cusano told the Folsom Times.
For residents seeking hands-on guidance, the City of Folsom is hosting a Wildfire Prevention Open House on Tuesday, June 3 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Rotary Clubhouse in Lew Howard Park, 7150 Baldwin Dam Road. The event will provide tools and information to help homeowners implement wildfire preparedness measures at their properties.
As California enters another fire season, Folsom homeowners in interface areas have a clear window to assess their properties and take action. The steps the city is promoting—clearing vegetation, upgrading materials, and planning evacuation—represent investments in both property protection and family safety that become significantly harder to execute once fire conditions develop.