Memorandum
Date: April 21, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Jessica Pyska, District 5 Supervisor
Subject: Adopt Proclamation Designating May 2026 as Wildfire Community Preparedness Month in Lake County
Executive Summary:
DESIGNATING MAY 2026 AS WILDFIRE COMMUNITY
PREPAREDNESS MONTH IN LAKE COUNTY
WHEREAS, wildfire significantly impacts Lake County's environmental, economic, and social well-being and can occur during any month; and
WHEREAS, residents of Lake County's fire-prone communities must accept responsibility for living in high fire-hazard areas; and
WHEREAS, residents, property owners, utility providers, evacuation corridor owners, and essential services providers must prepare to survive wildfire by ensuring proper management of vegetation and debris surrounding their locations and must stay continuously vigilant throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, residents, citizens, and guests should take protective action immediately during a wildfire or any other emergency to keep themselves safe; and
WHEREAS, Zone 0 is the Ember-Resistant Zone, a combustible exclusion area, extending from buildings to 5 feet out, including the removal of vegetation, wood chips, and any fire-wicking materials connected to the structure; maintenance of this area has been proven by science to be the most important of all defensible space zones and is designed to keep fire or embers from igniting materials that can spread fire to your home; and
WHEREAS, using hardscape materials for landscaping, removing all dead or dying vegetation, removing all branches within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe outlet, clearing gutters of leaves and tree litter, limiting combustible items on top of decks, relocating firewood and lumber to Zone 2, and replacing combustible materials attached to the home with noncombustible alternatives are some examples for clearing Zone 0; and
WHEREAS, residents and property owners are r...
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