Santa Clara County FireSafe Council Homepage 2026

August 11, 2026 | 4:30 PM Virtual CWPP Presentation by Zaid Ortiz, Project Manager Join us for an informative session to learn about the importance of the Santa Clara County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and how it helps guide wildfire preparedness, mitigation, and resilience across our communities. Whether you’re a resident, community leader, or simply interested in wildfire safety, this class is a great opportunity to learn how you can play a role in building a more fire-adapted Santa Clara County. Sign up: sccfiresafe.org/upcoming-events

Zaid Ortiz, who serves as a Project Manager for the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council (SCCFSC), was recently promoted to Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Manager. Zaid has been with the SCCFSC for 3 years, and has helped the community of Santa Clara County with conducting defensible space assessments for residents, Installing wildfire Sensors, and helping push the CWPP efforts forward.In his expanded role, Zaid will lead the ongoing management, maintenance, and implementation of the Santa Clara County CWPP while continuing to collaborate with local fire agencies, government partners, community organizations, and other stakeholders to advance countywide wildfire resilience efforts. Zaid earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from California State University, Sacramento, where he developed a strong foundation in environmental management, sustainability, and natural resource conservation. He brings that knowledge to his work by coordinating projects that strengthen wildfire preparedness and foster partnerships across Santa Clara County. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors. Whether he's camping, snowboarding during the winter months, or tackling new problems at the bouldering gym, he enjoys staying active and exploring everything Northern California has to offer.

🚒 Stop by and say hello! Join us at the Santa Clara County Wildfire Preparedness Workshop in Los Altos and be sure to visit the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council resource table. We'd love to meet you and answer your questions about wildfire preparedness, home hardening, defensible space, Firewise USA®, and the many resources available to help protect your home and neighborhood. 📅 Thursday, August 27 🕕 6:00–8:00 PM 📍 Los Altos Community Center 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos The evening will feature a 45-minute wildfire preparedness presentation, followed by time to visit resource tables and connect with local experts and organizations, including: - Firewise Community Leaders - Los Altos Hills County Fire District - Los Altos Police Department - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District - PG&E - Santa Clara County Fire Department - Santa Clara County FireSafe Council - Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) - United Policyholders This is a free event and a great opportunity to learn practical steps you can take to better prepare your home, family, and neighborhood for wildfire. 👉 Register today: https://2026AugustLosAltosWUIWorkshop.eventbrite.com We look forward to seeing you there!

We were honored to host the Korea National Park Service as they explored the use of AI-powered wildfire smoke detection technology for their 24 National Parks. Santa Clara County has 28 County Parks with a network of 15 AI wildfire smoke sensors, and it was a great opportunity to share how this technology is helping improve early detection and wildfire resilience. The visit included technical discussions, site visits to several sensor locations, and an exchange of ideas on using innovative technology to protect people, parks, and natural resources. It was exciting to hear that the Korea National Park Service views Santa Clara County Parks as a leader in adopting life-safety and wildfire risk reduction technologies. We want to thank Chairman, County Board of Supervisors D3 Otto Lee for making his fantastic Policy Analyst, Jordan A. Tachibana and a few summer interns available to spend time with us helping make the visit a success. Hope you enjoy photos from the visit, including a few beautiful images of Korea's National Parks! 🌲🌏🤝

Congratulations to Casa Loma! We're excited to celebrate Casa Loma on becoming Santa Clara County's 33rd recognized Firewise USA® community! Firewise USA® communities are taking proactive steps to reduce wildfire risk, strengthen neighborhood resilience, and make their communities safer. Interested in starting the Firewise journey in your neighborhood? Learn more at sccfiresafe.org/firewise.

🎉 Work got busy, but we couldn't let this milestone go by without recognizing it. Please join us in congratulating Stephen on his well-deserved promotion! Your hard work, dedication, and leadership have made a lasting impact, and we're excited to see all you'll accomplish in your new role. Congratulations, Stephen! 👏🎉 Stephen Harrington, who leads the Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaboration (LGCWC) Forest Health Grants was recently promoted to Director of Forest Health and Prescribed Fire Programs. In his expanded role, he will continue oversight of the CAL FIRE Forest Health grant and also direct the new California Coastal Conservancy grant to establish the South Bay Prescribed Burn Association (SBPBA). Stephen has been with the SCCFSC for four and a half years implementing $14.5 million Forest Health Grants, guiding the now completed West Santa Clara Landscape Resilience Project PSA, and working on long range forest health planning. In addition to Stephen's work at the FireSafe Council, his experience in environmental consulting, land conservation, and a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies from the Yale School of the Environment, position him well for the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of his new director position. When he is not working on forest health, he can be found cycling, taking photographs, fly fishing and traveling with his family.

The South Bay Prescribed Burn Association held its first S-130 Field Exercise and Capacity Test on Saturday, June 27, 2026, with 20 participants spending the day building their wildland firefighting skills. The training course was led by Prometheus Fire Consulting with staff support from the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council. We would like to thank the Coastal Conservancy for providing funding, Prometheus Fire Consulting for delivering expert instruction, and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for hosting the training on its property. The all-day training gave participants from SCVOSA, San Benito RCD, and SJSU, along with interested community members, to earn their Fire Fighter Type II (FFT2) certification. Throughout the day, they completed the Work Capacity (Pack) Test (a three-mile hike in 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack) as well as fire shelter deployment, handline construction, and hose-laying exercises. The equipment used throughout the training was purchased through the South Bay Prescribed Burn Association and is featured in the photos below. We are excited to continue building local prescribed fire capacity and strengthening partnerships that support wildfire resilience across the region!

💥 Fourth of July is just around the corner! Remember that all fireworks are dangerous and illegal to own, use, or sell in most of Santa Clara County. Leave the fireworks to the professionals this Independence Day and celebrate safely by attending a local fireworks show. There are many great displays to choose from!