The Zaca Fire continues to burn over 70,000 acres in Santa Barbara County. Fire Officials have alerted us to stand-by in case the fire crosses into the city over Camino Cielo. They also say this is a probability and Santa Barbara residents should be prepared.
It's important for all Santa Barbara County residents to plan ahead so to be prepared to evacuate quickly with important documents and supplies should the fire pose a risk to other communities in Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara Public Health Departments offer the following suggestions;
Think about what you will need to do for yourself, your family, your pets, and your animals to be prepared to evacuate. This kind of preparation will also help you be ready for other kinds of disasters.

There are three basic steps for disaster or emergency preparedness:
** Learn if the Zaca Fire could affect your area and how to prepare for an evacuation. Think about evacuation routes so that you know how to leave quickly if necessary. Contact Fire Officials, 961-5770, or media for the latest information via phone or website.
** Talk with your family members about the Zaca Fire. Make an emergency plan and discuss it with your family. Select a meeting place, other than your home, for your loved ones to meet in case it's unsafe to return home or you are unable to return home. Make sure you designate an "emergency check-in" contact and teach your children the phone number for this contact.
** Prepare an emergency "grab and go" pack with important documentation, in case you have to "grab and go" during an evacuation. Also pack what you will need to meet your family's and your pet's needs. Include medications, prescriptions, and clothing you will need if you have to be away from home for a few days. See the attached information sheet for a list of important documents that you might put in your "grab and go" pack.
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Evacuation "Grab and Go" Box

Your "Grab and Go" Box Should Include:
§ Cash for several days' living expenses.
§ Emergency and other important phone numbers, such as the Red Cross and Fire Departments. Include local and toll-free.
§ Names and contact information for:
- doctors, pharmacies
- banks and financial institutions
- insurance companies (include your local agent and the company headquarters.)
- credit card companies
- family/friends
§ Photos or disks of photos
§ Passports
§ Labeled photos of family members and pets
§ Copies of these documents:
- Prescriptions for medications and eyeglasses
- Health, dental, and prescription insurance cards or numbers
- Homeowners, auto, flood or renter's insurance policies and policy numbers
- Deeds & Titles
- Wills and trust and other legal documents
- Birth, death, adoption, marriage certificates
- Stock and bond certificates
- Home inventory (printed and digital version if available)
- First two pages of previous year's federal and state income tax returns
- Military service records
§ List of numbers:
- Social Security
- Bank account
- Loan
- Credit card
- Driver's license
- Investment accounts
- Other account numbers - for example, gas and electric company