Fire Hazards

Emergency preparedness for fire hazards, have a plan be prepared to evacuate.

Fire emergency: get to safety

If there is a fire in your building, get out, stay out and call 911 from a safe location. Do not delay leaving to collect belongings.

If your building is on fire

  • Activate the fire alarm if you can do so safely while leaving.
  • Use the nearest safe exit. Take stairs, not elevators.
  • Follow your building's evacuation plan. Assist others only when you can do so safely.
  • Go to your designated outdoor meeting location and tell firefighters if anyone is missing.
  • If you cannot escape, close the door between you and the fire, call 911 and tell the dispatcher your exact location.
  • Do not re-enter until firefighters say it is safe.

If wildfire threatens your area

Leave immediately when an evacuation order is issued. Leave early if you need extra time, and do not wait for an official notice if you feel unsafe.

Find your evacuation zone and review evacuation guidance.

Wildfire smoke: protect your health

Smoke from distant fires can affect Menlo Park even when there is no local evacuation. Check air quality and reduce your exposure. Smoke precautions do not replace evacuation instructions.

Check Menlo Park's Air Quality Index or view the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.

Find cleaner air

  • Reduce outdoor activity and strenuous exercise when air quality is poor.
  • Keep windows and doors closed when outdoor air is smoky, provided indoor temperatures remain safe.
  • Use a portable air cleaner or suitable high-efficiency system filter. Set ventilation to recirculate when appropriate for your equipment.
  • Avoid adding indoor pollution from smoking, candles, wood-burning fireplaces or similar sources.
  • If your home becomes too hot or smoky, seek a location with cleaner, cooled indoor air. Check City announcements for any activated public facilities.

Children, older adults, pregnant people and people with heart or lung conditions may be more affected by smoke. Follow your health care provider's advice. Call 911 for severe trouble breathing or another medical emergency.

When you must be outdoors

A well-fitting, NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator can reduce exposure to smoke particles. A tight seal matters; facial hair and poor fit reduce protection. Cloth coverings and loose-fitting surgical masks do not provide the same protection.

A respirator does not make it safe to enter a fire area. If wearing one causes difficulty breathing or dizziness, move to cleaner air and remove it.

Review AirNow smoke-preparedness guidance and guidance for smoke and extreme heat .

Prepare before a fire

Structure fires: plan and practice your escape

  • Know your building's exits and practice your escape plan.
  • Choose an outdoor meeting place everyone can recognize.
  • Plan assistance for anyone who may need help evacuating. Include a backup if the usual helper is unavailable.
  • Keep exits clear and maintain smoke alarms according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Review home fire prevention and escape guidance .

Wildfire: Ready, Set, Go

Get READY: prepare your home

Reduce hazards around your home through defensible space and home-hardening measures. Defensible space creates separation between a structure and surrounding vegetation and other combustible materials.

Explore CAL FIRE defensible-space guidance .

Get SET: prepare your household

Make a communication and evacuation plan. Pack essential supplies, identify transportation and assistance needs, and prepare for pets and service animals.

Sign up for SMC Alert and save your evacuation zone. Looking up a zone does not enroll you in emergency notifications.

GO: leave early and follow directions

Be ready to leave before fire, smoke or congestion blocks your route. People who need extra time, and those with pets or livestock, should leave when an evacuation warning is issued. Everyone must leave when ordered.

Review evacuation warning, order and shelter-in-place definitions . Return only when officials say it is safe.

Fire hazard maps and background

Fire Hazard Severity Zones are different from evacuation zones. Hazard maps support long-term planning. Evacuation maps show areas affected by emergency instructions. A hazard designation does not show whether a fire is occurring now.

View Fire Hazard Severity Zones

California's maps classify wildfire hazard as Moderate, High or Very High using factors such as vegetation, terrain, weather and potential fire behavior.

Open the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer .

Review the map's legend and information for your location. Use official emergency alerts and evacuation information for immediate safety decisions.

Understand hazard, risk and local responsibilities

Hazard describes conditions that influence potential wildfire behavior over time. Risk also considers potential consequences and measures that reduce damage, such as home hardening and defensible space.

State and Local Responsibility Areas identify which level of government has primary wildland fire-protection responsibility. They are not evacuation-status categories.

For current mapping information and regulatory background, visit the Office of the State Fire Marshal's Fire Hazard Severity Zones page .

For questions about requirements affecting your property, contact the Menlo Park Fire Protection District or the City's Community Development Department .

Together we are MenloPrepared.

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  • Every other Friday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • (Closed every other Friday)

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Menlo Park Fire Protection District

Non-emergency
650-688-8400

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