Preparing for Severe Drought and Above-Normal Fire Potential this Summer

Well, here we are going into summer once again with the U.S. Drought Monitor map (droughtmonitor.unl.edu) reminding us that we are in a severe drought and the National Interagency Fire Center (nifc.gov) forecasting above normal significant wildland fire potential starting next month. 

According to California Water Watch (cww.water.ca.gov), our region has received about 43% of the average amount of precipitation for the current water year, which began October 1, 2024, and, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA.gov), the wet season for this water year ended in April. Plus, our snowpack across the state is only at 13% of the average peak. If you are not familiar with snowpack, this is an important measurement that helps us forecast how much snow melt will be adding water to reservoirs and rivers this year. 

All of this means that we can expect that our drought situation and wildfire risk will not improve as we move into the hot, dry months of summer. This also means it is up to us to do as much as we can to conserve water and harden our homes to reduce fire risk. 

I have talked a lot about water conservation in this column over the years, and I know Ojaians are well-versed on this topic, so I will just mention a few water conserving efforts you might consider if you are not yet doing them. One of the biggest water-saving steps you can take is to replace some or all of your natural grass lawn with a no-water or low-water alternative, such as gravel, wood chips, mulch, decomposed granite, hardscape patios and walkways, or native plants. This, alone, can save tens of thousands of gallons of water per year. 

You can also save water by installing a pool cover to minimize evaporation, installing a gray water system to reclaim household water, upgrading older toilets to high-efficiency toilets to save as much as five gallons per flush, checking your irrigation system for leaks, installing a rain barrel, taking shorter showers, washing your car at the car wash instead of in the driveway, or skipping eating meat just one day per week to save hundreds of gallons of water every year. 

Ojaians are also well-versed in home hardening to increase the chance of our homes surviving a wildfire. Most folks know to create a defensible space around their home and other structures with hardscapes and fire-resistant plants, stack firewood at least 30 feet away from structures and to maintain a 10-foot, vegetation-free space around the firewood, choose fire-resistant textiles and outdoor furniture, follow weed abatement guidelines, and keep their backyard fire pits and fireplaces clean and functioning properly. 

One practice that I think we can still all get better at is regularly cleaning our gutters. Fire-resistant roofing materials are essential, but they are not enough to save our homes if the roof or gutters are cluttered with flammable debris. 

Everyone with a home in California should also spend some time on the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) wildfire preparation website, ReadyForWildfire.org, which has a ton of resources and easy checklists to help you get your family and property ready for fire season. This includes checklists for creating go bags, making sure your insurance is in order, creating an evacuation plan, and low-cost ways to harden your home, as well as an assessment to create a custom checklist for your home and home hardening retrofit guides in English and Spanish.  

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AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, and green living. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.