The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department is offering three new free resources to help homeowners prepare for wildfires.
Dry brush and warm, windy weather make fires a real threat for some homeowners in San Luis Obispo, including those who live near the Irish Hills Nature Reserve.
Monica Carinio has lived in the area for more than 15 years.
"It's always in the back of our mind because we live up against nature," Carinio said.
Across town, Natasha Mercurio says she evacuated her home when the Lizzie Fire sparked in October 2023 near San Luis Obispo High School.
"It had just a huge impact on us. We're always making sure that we're keeping our trees trimmed and our branches," Mercurio said.
The fire department's new resources include voluntary detailed home assessments, online home assessments, and a new preparedness guide. During the in-person visits, a trained intern physically walks the property with the homeowner.
"One of our community risk reduction interns will come out and spend about an hour with you and walk around the property looking for things that are hazardous to your homes," said Joe Little, San Luis Obispo City Fire Department Emergency Manager and Public Information Officer.
Little says the free home visits are funded by a temporary FEMA grant.
The department hopes to continue offering the assessments to San Luis Obispo residents for the next nine months.
