June 23, 2023 - Placer County Sheriff's Office officials report that they are one day into summer and there have already been at least a half dozen fires across Placer County. This past weekend alone, there were several close calls as Placer County Sheriff’s deputies responded to three fires – two just hours apart on Monday.
On Sunday afternoon, deputies responded to reports of a vegetation fire burning along Rough and Ready Hill Road, in Colfax. Fortunately, CALFIRE crews gained control of the fire quickly, leaving no need for evacuations and no destroyed structures. On Monday, deputies responded to another brush fire on Rippey Road in Loomis; a tree had fallen, knocking powerlines to the ground, and threatening several structures. Deputies quickly notified surrounding residents and provided traffic control as fire crews got a handle on the fire. Fortunately, again, the fire did not grow past an acre or damage any structures, and no one was hurt. That same day, deputies responded to a second brush fire along Indian Springs Road in Loomis – this time, the several-acre fire was caused accidentally by a homeowner who was mowing his property. Deputies assisted with road closures and made several evacuation announcements around the area. Fire crews were able to contain the blaze quickly yet again, and the fire did not destroy any structures or result in any injuries.
These fires were able to be controlled quickly – we may not be so lucky next time. Please follow the below tips to keep yourself, your home, and our county safe:
Mow dry grass during off-peak hours (before 10:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m.) and AVOID any lawn work on windy days.
Have an evacuation plan for you, your family, and your pets.
Maintain defensible space around your home/property.
Have an emergency “go bag” ready with important documents, medications, food, water, clothing, toiletries, N95 mask (to protect against smoke inhalation), etc.
Keep a full tank of gas in your vehicle(s).
SIGN UP FOR PLACER ALERT: Placer Alert is a free service that keeps you informed and up to date during any type of emergency or major disaster, including wildfires and wildfire evacuations. If you haven’t signed up yet, please register your cell phones, texting devices, and email addresses at www.placer-alert.org. Opting into Placer Alert will give you real-time notifications when critical incidents, disasters, and evacuations are impacting your area, helping you make the best decision to keep you and your loved ones safe.
You can also download the Everbridge app via Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details... or the iTunes Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/everbridge/id565859420.
Source: Placer County Sheriff's Office
