Do you have someone to care for your pets if you’re evacuated or need long-term hospital care? For Pet Preparedness Month, take time to select a “designated caregiver” in case you can’t be there to feed and care for your animals. Learn more at: aspca.org/pet-care/general-p…

This Saturday, June 6, join Santa Cruz County CERT, Central Fire and other local disaster preparedness agencies for a free Disaster Preparedness Event at the Aptos Grange. See flyer for details!

Our Community Risk Reduction team and firefighters will be at the Capitola Starbucks on June 4th for "Coffee with Firefighters" from 11 AM - 2 PM. Hope you can join us!

We're excited to introduce our new Deputy Fire Marshal, Alexis Reed! With experience in emergency response, fire prevention, hazardous materials, and marine operations, DFM Reed brings a wealth of expertise to the role. Please join us in welcoming Deputy Fire Marshal Reed!

Wishing everyone a beautiful and peaceful Memorial Day weekend! Our office will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026.

2025 was an incredibly busy year for our Fire District - learn all about it in our 2025 Annual Report! Now available on our website, at: centralfiresc.org/DocumentCe…

Creating a safer highway environment is the shared responsibility of drivers & motorcyclists alike! Watch your speed on the road, and avoid blind spots, especially near larger vehicles and trucks.

This International Firefighters' Day, we would like to honor our brave, outstanding firefighters for the work they do every day, protecting and helping our community in so many ways. You are amazing!

🌞Wake up and tune in at 10 AM tomorrow!! Join CAL FIRE LIVE for a conversation about wildfire preparedness — what it means, why it matters, and most importantly, how YOU can get involved. Whether you're just getting started or looking to do more, this is the conversation to be part of. Set your alarm. Share with a neighbor. Take the next step to being wildfire prepared. 🔗Watch on @calfire's Facebook, Instagram, or stream on Vimeo #WildfirePreparednessWeek #Live #ReadyForWildfire #DefensibleSpace #CALFIRE

As of today, 4/30/2026, Backyard Burn Season is ending. No further burning will be permitted, and no permits issued until December of 2026.

On Thursday, April 30, 8 AM-12 PM, the Santa Cruz Hazardous Materials Interagency Team (SCHMIT) will conduct a drill at Pure Water Soquel at 2505 Chanticleer Ave. You might see people in blue hazmat suits. This is ONLY a training exercise, and no cause for alarm.

Do you want to lessen the wildfire risk around your home, but don’t have the funds for expensive maintenance? Check our low to no-cost Home Hardening Resources on our website: centralfiresc.org/2306/Low-C…

Central FD is accepting applicants for a Human Resources Specialist. Learn more about this exciting opportunity at: centralfiresc.org/2156/Caree…

On this day, back in 2015, we lost a very special member of our Fire Family. Each April 20th, we remember and honor Aptos/La Selva Firefighter Steve Brosig, an exceptional person with a love of life, family, and service to his community. Always remembered with love.

April is Earthquake Preparedness Month. Prepare by downloading the free MyShake App, signing up for local alerts and preparing a go bag or stay box. It's not a matter of "if" but "when" the next earthquake will happen. To learn more, visit: wp.me/pgM8my-12ia

Did you know you can learn a lot about a fire hydrant by it's color markings? Learn more about hydrants, their marking & maintenance at our new Fire Hydrant Information page: centralfiresc.org/2311/Fire-…

Did you feel the earth move today? Be prepared for the next one, by downloading the MyShake App today, and learning more about earthquake preparedness at centralfiresc.org/2224/Earth…

Doing some Spring cleaning this month? The Mayo Clinic has some important safety tips to consider before you start! youtu.be/FJesnXZCF_s?si=k_Xs… via @YouTube

From @sccounty This message is from the Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience. California State Parks has and will be burning piles in various mountain State Parks in Santa Cruz County. This work will be dependent on dry weather and conditions that will facilitate smoke dispersal. Burning will continue as it is safe, through April 2026. Approximately 400 burn piles will be burned throughout Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park, and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, including the Fall Creek Unit. Pile burning in both Big Basin and Henry Cowell is part of a continuing State Park effort to reduce fuel loads around old growth redwood habitats, fostering forest health. Pile burning in Fall Creek Unit at Henry Cowell is part of a larger fuel reduction project at the park unit to alleviate the potential for extreme fire behavior. Pile burning at Castle Rock is part of a forest health initiative to thin understory trees that are outpacing the growth of the black oak woodland which is a unique fire-adapted plant community in the area. Below is more information on the prescribed burns: • Pile burning will be monitored until piles are cold and extinguished. • Burning will continue as conditions allow until the pile burning season ends. • Ignitions are scheduled to occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for all burns. Smoke may be visible in the vicinity of the parks in Santa Cruz County during the pile burning. Monitoring and patrol will occur throughout this period and extend into the evening and weekend as required. All burning is dependent on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal and to meet ecological goals. If conditions are not conducive for burning, burns will be rescheduled. These burns are respectively permitted, planned, and coordinated with the Monterey Bay Air Quality Management District and in order to minimize smoke impacts to surrounding communities. Pile burning is a part of fuel reduction projects in these parks and helps to alleviate extreme fire behavior in the event of a wildfire. These projects improve emergency access, foster forest health, and enhance biodiversity. To better inform the public on prescribed burns and other fire operations taking place in State Parks’ Santa Cruz District, which includes all state parks in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, please follow the Santa Cruz Prescribed Fires webpage: • Webpage: sites.google.com/ports-ca.us…

If you are planning on drinking this St. Patrick's Day, remember to plan ahead with a designated driver, taxi or other safe transportation option. A tiny bit of preparation can make all the difference! 🍀