Whether you live in the Foothills of Palo Alto or the flatlands closer to the Bay, preparing for wildfires makes a lot of sense. The wildfire threat is significant across the Santa Cruz Mountain range and is highlighted in the Santa Clara County and Palo Alto local hazard mitigation plans. In the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), there are over 130 residences, a handful of businesses, and public infrastructure that is at risk. The City of Palo Alto works every year to minimize the risk; we have a multi-functional team that works on our wildfire risk reduction programs. But, we can only do so much. Every property owner must take the steps to prepare for wildfires.
Learn more about the READY, SET, GO preparedness and planning steps from CAL FIRE.
AlertSCC is an opt-in Santa Clara County specific alerting system. If you do not sign up, you will not receive these important alerts. This system provides you with the RIGHT information at the RIGHT time and will help you make the RIGHT decisions to stay safe during an emergency or disaster.
Sign Up for AlertSCC
Knowing your zone is critical to the evacuation process. If there is a wildfire or emergency situation, this is how you will check if you are in an impacted area. Those living or working in the Palo Alto Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) should all know your evacuation zone.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department has adopted Genasys Protect (formerly Zonehaven) to provide specific, timely and accurate information regarding evacuations. Genasys Protect provides a shared map with integrated databases that can be relied upon by residents and first responders for communicating and learning about approaching fire and other emergency conditions, and managing evacuations and safe post-disaster return to residences.
In the pop-up box, you will see your Zone, Status and other helpful information. Make note of your Zone.
2. During a wildfire emergency determine the status of you zone.
3. Watch this short video of how to use this platform. Note that the name Zonehaven is used, which is the same as Genasys Protect.
Leave as soon as evacuation is recommended by public safety officials. If you are unsure, don’t wait to be ordered by authorities to leave. In an intense wildfire, they may not have time to knock on every door. If you are advised to leave, don’t hesitate! Be ready to Go.
California has adopted standard evacuation terminology:
Evacuation Order: There is an immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area under evacuation order is now lawfully closed to public access.
Evacuation Warning: There is a potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.
Know ahead of time how you're going to evacuate. Understand ALL the routes in and out of your neighborhood. If you can't leave using an evacuation route, know the nearest Safety Zone, an area relatively free from flammable vegetation or materials that provides refuge from a fire. The planning map below can be used to help you plan.
Download a printable evacuation route map.
While in your vehicle:
While on foot:
While in your home:
Palo Alto Wildfire Planning Map
The map featured below is intended to assist you in planning to Get Set and Go. Know ahead of time the various evacuation routes from your property, and if you can’t evacuate, know the location of the nearest safety zone.
Map Key
You can view a network of cameras online via the California Alert web portal. For our immediate area this includes Black Mountain, Montebello Reservoir, Foothills Park, the Stanford Dish, and Jasper Ridge.
ALERTWildfire is a consortium of The University of Nevada, Reno, University of California San Diego, and the University of Oregon providing fire cameras and tools to help firefighters and first responders:
Other Resources