10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 23-29, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Just a week into the new year, fires tore through Los Angeles, burning nearly 38,000 acres through Pacific Palisades, Altadena and surrounding areas. Tens of thousands of public service personnel were deployed alongside aircraft, Highway Patrol officers, nearly 1,500 fire engines and National Guard members. Winds reaching 70 mph delayed aircraft deployment, while water pressure issues impacted firefighting efforts. Today, these fires—which claimed the lives of at least 27 people along with thousands of homes according to news reports—remain only partially contained. The fires were fueled by the perfect convergence of dry brush and heavy vegetation, a lack of rain and, of course, a connection to a changing climate that makes such “unprecedented” events occur with increasing regularity. Concerned Monterey County residents, fearing similar disasters, have inundated local officials with questions about regional preparedness. “There needs to be those interruptions so that fire can’t go from the forest into the community,” says Richard Bates, president of the Fire Safe Council for Monterey County. “Once it’s in the community, the structures themselves become the fuel, and as you saw in Altadena and Pacific Palisades the fires jump from one to the next.” Compounding these concerns, roughly nine days after the fires in LA began, the Vistra battery storage plant in Moss Landing caught fire, prompting evacuations and emergency response plans, involving the deployment of officials from the Department of Emergency Management, firefighters and more (see story, p. 8). While the nature of these fires differs, the events highlight overlapping challenges of resilience and preparedness in Monterey County. “One of the things our office has taken on is a keen eye toward community resilience, which isn’t just focused on the individual, but also at the community level,” says Kelsey Scanlon, director of the County Department of Emergency Management. Amid disaster fatigue, Scanlon adds that their goal is to be specific and particular about the asks to the community about what to invest in with emergency management. First and foremost, she says, “register for emergency alerts, stay informed, build a kit, make a plan. “On top of that, [we have to ask ourselves] how we can shift our cultural paradigm for how we respond to emergencies. It really is a team effort.” According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, homes in Monterey County are, on average, at greater risk from wildfires than 99 percent of counties in the U.S. Monterey County’s risk stems from available fuel, or vegetation, proximity of homes to wildlands, and decades of prioritizing wildfire suppression over prevention. Bates adds that risk to Monterey County is likely due to a significant portion of its land in wilderness areas like Big Sur. “There are [fire] challenges everywhere,” he says. “The only thing that changes a bit is the scale.” Not all areas in the county are equally at risk, and ability to respond depends on the groundwork done beforehand, particularly in facilitating wildfire fuel reduction—before disaster strikes. Numerous grants have been awarded recently locally to address this issue: $1.6 million to the Monterey County Regional Fire District for a community hazardous fuels reduction project; $3.26 million to the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County from Cal Fire; and over $500,000 secured by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. These initiatives, which aim to do things like thin vegetation in vulnerable areas and create escape corridors, will take time to implement. On an individual level, residents should prepare “Go Bags” with essential items (see below), download firewatch apps like Watch Duty, look to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s recommendations on creating defensible space, and ensure medications, pet crates and other essentials are ready. “It’s imperative that our residents sign up for our alert warning system via AlertMontereyCounty.org. That’s a tool that our Department of Emergency Management has, and our Sheriff’s Office has, to notify people timely and accurately,” says Nicholas Pasculli, communications director for the County of Monterey. Sign up for alerts, stay up to date with the latest information, and find available resources after an emergency at ReadyMontereyCounty.org. Ready, Go After disasters in LA and Moss Landing, how prepared is Monterey County? By Katie Rodriguez NEWS PROPANE PARTY Little Kamper and the California Product Stewardship Council will honor State Sen. John Laird, who will speak on the passing of Senate Bill 1280. The law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2028, bans the sale of single-use, one-pound propane gas cylinders. 10-11am Saturday, Jan. 25. REI, 145 General Stilwell Drive, Marina. Free. STOP THE BLEED Trauma surgeon Dr. Nicholas Rottler and shark bite survivor Steve Bruemmer present a workshop on bleeding control techniques. The event coincides with a blood drive. 9am-2pm Sunday, Jan. 26. Natividad Medical Center, 1441 Constitution Blvd., Salinas. Free. RSVP at artingerlg@natividad.com. Register to donate blood at vitalant.org. ICE TALK The Monterey County Board of Supervisors holds a TRUTH Act hearing, where the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office will present how it has provided access to individuals in custody to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the previous year. Public comment will be accepted. 1:30pm Tuesday, Jan. 28. Board of Supervisors Chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. countyofmonterey. gov. STATE OF THE CITY King City Mayor Mike LeBarre and city staff present the annual State of the City address at two separate events. The city officials will provide an update on King City’s current and future plans. Noon-1pm Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Salinas Valley Fairgrounds, Orradre Building, 625 Division St., King City. $20. 385-3814. 5:30pm Thursday, Jan. 30 at City Council Chambers, 212 S. Vanderhurst Ave., King City. Free. 3853281, kingcity.com. FIND A JOB Monterey County Works is hosting a job fair to connect local employers with job seekers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their résumés and dress to impress. 1-4pm Wednesday, Jan. 29. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Salinas. Free. Register at montereycountyworks.com/ january-15-2025-job-fair. SENIOR SERVICES Alliance on Aging presents the Solutions Summit, which is an opportunity for the public to share input on California’s Master Plan on Aging. The plan focuses on shaping future aging and disability services. 12:30-2pm Thursday, Jan. 30. Sherwood Village, 808 N. Main St., Salinas. Free. Register at 655-7562. allianceonaging.org. Kelsey Scanlon, director of the County’s Department of Emergency Management, speaks about a Moss Landing battery plant fire on Jan. 17. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “It really is a team effort.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Go Bag! Checklist • Face masks or coverings • Three-day supply of non-perishable food and 3 gallons of water per person • Paper map marked with at least two evacuation routes • Prescriptions or special medications • Change of clothing, including a cotton long-sleeved shirt and pants • Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses • An extra set of car keys, phone charger, credit cards, cash or traveler’s checks • First aid kit • Flashlight • Battery-powered radio and extra batteries • Sanitation supplies • Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, insurance, etc.) • Food, water and medications for pets • Can opener
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