The Firebreak
A firebreak is the cleared line that stops a fire from spreading. This is ours: plain-English guides on preparedness, insurance, home hardening, family fire safety and getting through the holidays in fire country.
Read, plan, prepare
Teaching Kids Fire Safety Through Play: Games, Songs and Activities That Stick
Stop, drop and roll, crawling low, calling 911: playful ways to teach children fire safety that are memorable and not frightening.
CommunicationStaying Informed During a Wildfire: Alerts, Maps, Rumors and Neighborhood Communication
When smoke appears, information becomes urgent. How to set up alerts, find reliable updates, avoid rumors and keep neighbors connected.
TraditionsFire-Safe Holiday Traditions in California: Fireworks, Fire Pits and Outdoor Celebrations
New Year’s fireworks, backyard fire pits, outdoor lights and holiday camping: how to celebrate outdoors without adding to wildfire risk.
ResearchResearching Fire-Resistant Building Materials: How to Read Ratings, Claims and Product Labels
Class A roofs, ember-resistant vents, tempered glass, noncombustible siding: how homeowners can research materials and avoid marketing hype.
Home SafetyWinter Home Fire Safety: Heaters, Fireplaces, Cooking and Smoke Alarms
Cold nights bring space heaters, fireplaces and holiday cooking. Practical habits to prevent home fires during the winter months.
EvacuationGo Bags and Digital Backups: Making Sure What Matters Leaves With You
What to pack, how to back up important documents and how to keep everything ready so evacuating takes minutes, not hours.
GivingHoliday Giving for Fire-Affected Families: How to Help in Ways That Actually Help
Toy drives, gift cards, meals and time: how to support families recovering from wildfire during the holidays, and what to avoid.
Home HardeningPlanning and Budgeting a Home Hardening Project Without Getting Overwhelmed
Vents, roofs, gutters, windows, the five feet around your house: how to prioritize upgrades, get quotes and pay for wildfire home hardening.
RecoveryHelping Kids Cope After a Wildfire: Routines, Reassurance and When to Get Help
Whether your family evacuated, lost a home or watched a fire nearby, kids may need support afterward. Practical, compassionate ways to help.
CommunityStarting a Firewise Neighborhood: How Neighbors Can Reduce Wildfire Risk Together
One home is safer when the homes around it are safer too. A practical guide to organizing your neighborhood around wildfire preparedness.
RecoveryWhen Home Looks Different This Year: Celebrating the Holidays After an Evacuation or Loss
For families displaced by fire or still recovering, the holidays can feel heavy. Gentle ways to keep traditions, adapt plans and care for kids.
AdvocacyWriting to Local Officials About Wildfire Safety: How to Make Your Letter Count
Vegetation management, evacuation routes, alert systems: how homeowners can write clear, respectful letters that get attention from local decision-makers.
KidsPacking a Kids’ Go Bag: Comfort Items That Make Evacuations Easier
Beyond snacks and socks: how to pack a child’s go bag with familiar comforts that help them feel safe when the family has to leave home.
InsuranceYour Insurance Was Non-Renewed. Now What? A Calm, Step-by-Step Guide for California Homeowners
Receiving a non-renewal notice is stressful. How to understand it, explore options and keep your home protected without panic.
KidsFamily Evacuation Drills Kids Can Actually Follow (and Even Enjoy)
Practice turns panic into routine. How to run calm, age-appropriate fire and evacuation drills that build confidence for the whole family.
InsuranceReading Your Homeowners Policy Before Fire Season: The Questions That Matter Most
Insurance policies are long and confusing. How to find the parts that matter for wildfire, what to ask your insurer and how to keep your answers organized.
KidsTalking to Kids About Wildfire Without Scaring Them
Kids notice smoke, news and grown-up worry. Age-by-age ways to talk about wildfire honestly, calmly and in a way that helps them feel safe.
PlanningWriting a Household Wildfire Action Plan Everyone Can Actually Follow
Ready, Set, Go is the framework. This guide turns it into a written plan for your home: who does what, where you go and what you take.
Holiday SafetyMerry and Safe: Holiday Decorating Fire Safety for Trees, Lights and Candles
Christmas trees, string lights, candles and crowded outlets: practical ways to keep the season bright without inviting a home fire.
InsuranceThe Home Inventory You Hope You Never Need: Documenting Your Belongings Before Wildfire Season
If you had to file an insurance claim tomorrow, could you list everything you own? A practical, room-by-room guide to building a home inventory.
Meet the writers
Marisol Vega
Preparedness planning writer
Marisol writes about the paperwork side of wildfire preparedness: home inventories, insurance policies, action plans, budgets and letters to local officials. A lifelong planner, she believes the boring parts of preparedness are the parts that save the most stress later, and she uses everyday AI tools to turn messy notes into clear plans.
June Holloway
Family and holiday safety writer
June writes about keeping kids safe and families steady in fire country: holiday decorating safety, family drills, kids’ go bags, talking to children about wildfire and celebrating the holidays after a hard year. She believes the bravest things kids do deserve to be noticed.