Fire safety advocates and local leaders recently gathered at Paradise Park to celebrate Santa Cruz County’s milestone of surpassing 100 Firewise USA communities—earning third place nationally in recognized sites.
The Sept. 28 picnic, hosted by the Santa Cruz County Fire Safe Council and organized by volunteer Cyndi Weigelt, honored the residents and neighborhoods working together to strengthen wildfire resilience.
“This milestone represents more than just a number—it highlights the people and communities taking action to keep each other safe,” said Lauren Moody, a representative from the Fire Safe Council. “We are incredibly proud of our residents for stepping up, organizing and demonstrating that wildfire preparedness is most effective when it’s done neighbor-to-neighbor.”
Representatives from Cal Fire, local fire districts within Santa Cruz County and the offices of Sen. Laird and Assemblymember Pellerin joined Supervisors Cummings, Martinez and De Serpa in celebrating the dedication and grassroots leadership that make the county a model for wildfire preparedness.
The Firewise USA program, administered by the NFPA, empowers residents to come together to reduce wildfire risks through home hardening, defensible space and neighborhood-level planning. With more than 100 communities now engaged, Santa Cruz County continues to lead the way in California and beyond.
The Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County works to reduce the threat of wildfire through education, resource sharing, community programs and partnerships that empower residents to take action. Learn more at firesafesantacruz.org.
