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Cambria Fire Department Monthly Newsletter - September 2025

Cambria CSD Fire badge featuring a tree, cliff, and sunrise within a circle, with emergency and fire symbols on a red background.

Dear Cambria Residents,

This month’s edition highlights the many ways our team is working with—and for—our community.

  • Community Engagement: The Neighborhood Liaison Program was a major focus in August. Meetings were successfully held in Marine Terrace, Lodge Hill West, Top of the World, and Park Hill/Seacliff Estates. These sessions emphasized communication strategies, evacuation planning, and defensible space inspections. A Liaison meeting is currently being scheduled to coordinate with the remaining neighborhoods and determine future meeting dates and times.
  • The Fire Department also proudly participated in the annual Pinedorado Parade and Car Show, providing fire apparatus for the parade, staffing public safety booths, and ensuring emergency coverage during the event. Our crews engaged with residents and visitors alike, strengthening community connections and public trust.
  • Training & Operational Readiness: Cambria Fire Department personnel actively participated in San Luis Obispo County–wide training initiatives. Our firefighters attended a live burn training exercise in San Luis Obispo, sharpening wildland firefighting tactics, command skills, and safety practices under live-fire conditions. Our continued collaboration with San Luis Obispo County training partners ensures Cambria maintains a high level of operational readiness and integration with regional mutual-aid partners.
  • Disaster Preparedness: The department contributed to ongoing County Disaster Planning efforts, working with the Office of Emergency Services (OES) and allied agencies to refine disaster response strategies. These planning sessions focused on multi-agency coordination, evacuation protocols, and resource deployment for large-scale incidents affecting the North Coast.
  • Environmental & Hazard Mitigation Projects: The San Luis Obispo Regional Ecosystem for Sustainable Infrastructure and Landscapes (SLO RESIL) project received final approval from the California Coastal Commission in August. Work is now underway in multiple areas surrounding Cambria, including the Leimert properties, Leffingwell properties, and Krassensky properties. This initiative will enhance ecological health while supporting wildfire hazard reduction goals that align closely with the Fire Department’s mission.
Red vintage fire truck in a parade with people watching from the street and building balcony.
Children and a firefighter in a vehicle, kids wearing red fire helmets.
A red fire truck driving on a street, with people watching from the sidewalk and a building in the background.
Red vintage fire truck in a parade with people watching from the street and building balcony.
Children and a firefighter in a vehicle, kids wearing red fire helmets.
A red fire truck driving on a street, with people watching from the sidewalk and a building in the background.

Know Your Evacuation Zone

In light of the recent fires across California, the Cambria Fire Department urges all residents to remain vigilant and take steps to prepare for the ongoing threat of wildfire. These events are a stark reminder of how quickly fire can escalate and the importance of year-round fire safety and wildfire preparedness.

What Are Evacuation Zones?

San Luis Obispo County public safety agencies have worked together to divide the county into pre-established evacuation zones. These evacuation zones will assist first responders in more quickly determining evacuation areas during an emergency. These new zones will also allow the public to easily identify if they are in an area under an Evacuation Warning or Evacuation Order. These zones are intended for emergencies that require large-scale evacuations.

Evacuation Zones vs. Protective Action Zones

These new evacuation zones are different than the Protective Action Zones (PAZ) established for emergencies at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.  The 12 Protective Action Zones are much larger in size and are specifically designed for an emergency at Diablo Canyon when evacuation or shelter in place may be directed. The PAZs are still in place and would be used during a nuclear power plant emergency.  These new evacuation zones would be used during other emergencies

Know Your Evacuation Zones

To save time during an emergency, it is important for residents to know your evacuation zone in advance. Enter your address into the map tool below. The tool will tell you your zone name. It is important to write down the zone name and post it in a location easily accessible in an emergency.

Each zone has a description of the zone with the name, borders, current status, and additional information.  Additional information may also be provided. 

If an Evacuation Order or Warning is ordered, emergency officials will utilize alert and notification methods such as Wireless Emergency Alerts and Reverse 911 to notify residents which zones are affected. Knowing your evacuation zone will allow you to respond more quickly. 

How to Find Your Zone

  1. Click here to find your zone. Use the search bar on the upper left hand side to type in your address. Click enter, or select the appropriate address from the drop-down list that will appear.
  2. Your results will show your Protective Action Zone (PAZ) if you live in the Emergency Planning Zone for Diablo Canyon Power Plant (this will be a PAZ 1 - 12 number).
  3. Your results will also show your Evacuation Zone for non-Diablo Canyon emergencies (wildfires, etc.)
  4. The  map will also show you a visual of your zone for reference.  To zoom in, use the +/- sign on the top right.
  5. Other questions? See the Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here.
Monthly Incident Stats Overview

The Cambria CSD website features a 'Monthly Stats' page with detailed incident reports for each month. You can view them by clicking here.

Ways to Stay Involved with Cambria Fire Department

We encourage community members to stay involved and informed by:

  • Attending a Fire Protection Committee meeting
  • Attending a Board of Directors meeting to hear the Fire Chief’s report and department statistics
  • Attending a Cambria Fire Safe Focus Group meeting to engage in local wildfire prevention efforts
  • Follow the Cambria Fire Department on social media for real-time updates
  • Sign up to receive Cambria Fire Department news and updates, including information about the 2026 Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Program (FHFRP). Simply scroll to the bottom of the Cambria Community Services District website, click "Join Our Mailing List," and subscribe. It’s the best way to receive important fire department news, public safety updates, and community alerts directly to your inbox.
  • Becoming a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Member by signing up here.
  • Becoming a Neighborhood Liaison. Help keep Cambria informed and prepared by signing up as a Neighborhood Liaison. Liaisons play a vital role in sharing important updates and supporting community emergency preparedness. To get started, visit the Cambria Community Services District website, click on “How You Can Participate,” and complete the registration form. Your information will help strengthen local emergency communications and outreach efforts.
Meet the Fire Chief

On Monday, September 22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., I will be working out of the Cambria Veterans' Memorial Hall and would love to meet you and hear your thoughts on anything related to the Cambria Fire Department. 

The Cambria Fire Department remains committed to:

  • Expanding neighborhood liaison participation.
  • Continuing multi-agency training to strengthen wildfire and disaster readiness.
  • Supporting countywide hazard-mitigation and ecological projects

Stay informed, stay safe,

Michael Burkey
Fire Chief
Cambria Fire Department
mburkey@cambriacsd.org
(805) 927-6240

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