To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Scott Orr, Director of Permit Sonoma (707) 565-1925, Steve Mosiurchak, Sonoma County Fire Marshal (707) 565-1380
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Adopt a Gold Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Sonoma, State of California Proclaiming May 1 - May 31, 2026, as Wildfire Community Preparedness Month.
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Executive Summary:
Fire Safe Sonoma - the countywide Fire Safe Council is bringing this item to your Board in collaboration with Permit Sonoma’s Fire Prevention Division; CAL FIRE; the Sonoma County Fire Chief’s Association; the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, to remind all Sonoma County residents about the importance of being ready for wildfire.
Additionally, in concert with State and National agencies who, every year in May, remind people of the importance of wildland fire safety and risk reduction, we would like to declare May 2026 as Wildfire Community Preparedness Month in Sonoma County.
Discussion:
Approximately 95 percent of wildfires in California are human-caused and preventable. This fact, coupled with climate change, has increased the risks of wildfire in Sonoma County. At the same time, people are living where wildfires are a real risk. Much of Sonoma County’s wildland ecosystems are fire-dependent; they need fire to survive. Fire thins the vegetation, giving plants room to grow. It cracks seed casings and replenishes the soil, allowing new life to thrive. However, although fires are inevitable, we can all continue to work together and take steps to improve forest health while also protecting lives and property from loss due to wildland fires.
With that in mind, this year, our Wildfire Community Preparedness Month focus is to encourage groups and individuals living in wildfire-prone areas to reach out to their neighbors and encourage them to assist in this collaborative effort.
As co-sponsors of Wildfire Community Preparedness Month, The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Fire Safe Sonoma, Permit Sonoma’s Fire Prevention and Hazardous Materials Division, CAL FIRE, The Sonoma County Fire Chief’s Association, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, and the Sonoma County Vegetation Management Grant Program are celebrating several collaborative wildfire safety and risk reduction accomplishments over the past year, and we are all looking forward to further reducing wildfire risks.
The residents of Sonoma County have and continue to benefit from the ongoing strong partnerships established across the county because of the 2017 wildfires. These partnerships include all of those working to create wildfire resiliency and to mitigate wildfires. This diverse but unified group of partners is made up of residents, community leaders, non-government organizations, County departments, State agencies, and Federal agencies. These partners have varying missions and goals, but recognize that we are stronger working together towards the common goal of wildfire resiliency.
Prior Board Actions:
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Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
Att 1 Board of Supervisors Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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