Dry winds raise fire risk inside and outside the home. Here is a short checklist for alarms, escape routes and a kitchen fire plan.
When the Santa Ana winds blow, humidity drops and everything dries out. Most of the attention goes to brush fires in the hills, and rightly so, but those same conditions make a small kitchen or electrical fire spread faster at home too. This checklist takes about an hour and covers the basics for most Eastvale households.
1. Test every alarm, then add what is missing
Press the test button on every smoke alarm and listen for a loud, clear signal. California requires smoke alarms in every bedroom, in the hallway outside sleeping areas and on each level of the home. Homes with a gas appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage also need carbon monoxide alarms outside sleeping areas and on every level.
- Replace any alarm that is more than 10 years old (the date is printed on the back).
- Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms cut down the number of devices on the ceiling.
- Put a reminder in your phone to test them on the first of each month.
2. Have a plan for a stovetop fire
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Keep a lid that fits your largest pan near the stove, and mount a fire blanket where you can reach it without stepping over the flames. Never pour water on a grease fire. If the fire is not out within a few seconds, leave and call 911.
3. Walk your escape routes
Every room should have two ways out. In two-story homes, that usually means a window and an escape ladder in each upstairs bedroom. Practice with the whole family during the day so children know where the ladder is kept and how it hooks over the sill. Agree on a meeting spot outside, such as a neighbor's mailbox.
4. Clear the first five feet
CAL FIRE recommends keeping the area within five feet of the house free of anything that burns easily: dry leaves, wood piles, cushions and trash bins. Clean gutters and move patio furniture cushions inside on red flag days.
5. Pack a go-bag
Keep a bag by the door with water, phone chargers, copies of documents, medications, a flashlight, masks rated N95 and pet supplies. Sign up for Riverside County emergency alerts and know your evacuation zone. If you are told to leave, leave early.
This article is general information, not professional advice. Updated September 22, 2026.