San Diego Humane Society and ASPCA Share Wildfire Safety Tips for California Residents Ahead of National Preparedness Month

SAN DIEGO - In recognition of National Preparedness Month (September), and in response to forecasts that the 2026 fire season will be one of the most active on record in the United States, San Diego Humane Society and the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) are sharing wildfire awareness tips and safety precautions to help keep California residents - including their pets - safe.

Increase in Wildfire Severity and Frequency in California

According to recent research from UCLA, climate extremes are a major factor driving the rise in devastating wildfires in the western United States. Over the past century, California has seen increases in forest area burned, burn severity, fire-spread potential, and fire season length. A warmer, drier atmosphere, along with an increase in the availability of highly flammable brush, has caused wildfire severity in California to increase 30-fold between 1985 and 2024.

Being prepared in advance of these high-severity wildfires, which are often fast-moving and leave little time to react, helps to better protect people and their companion animals, who are often the most vulnerable during life-threatening disasters.

"When disaster hits, beloved pets and farm animals are often at risk of being left behind, simply because their owners are not ready," said Justin Stillions, Animal Emergency Response Manager for San Diego Humane Society. "Wildfires can move quickly, so having a plan, supplies and transportation ready before an evacuation order is issued can make all the difference in keeping animals safe."

"National Preparedness Month is an important reminder that wildfire readiness cannot wait until smoke is in the air," said Susan Anderson, senior director of disaster response for the ASPCA. "For pet owners, preparedness means planning ahead, building emergency kits, and making sure companion animals are part of every evacuation plan so families can act quickly and protect the pets who depend on them the most. We encourage pet owners to create, review or make updates to their wildfire evacuation plans to ensure the safety and well-being of their entire family, including their pets."

Lifesaving Wildfire Preparedness Tips

A past ASPCA survey revealed that while a significant percentage of pet owners live in areas prone to disasters, more than half do not have an emergency preparedness plan in place. Lifesaving wildfire preparedness tips include:

• Be familiar with the three wildfire evacuation levels: Get Ready, Be Set, and Go Now. Creating an evacuation plan in advance will help you evacuate quickly with your pets when directed to do so by local officials.

• Prepare emergency supplies: Create a portable pet emergency kit in case you need to shelter in place or evacuate. This kit should include essential items such as a pet carrier, medical records, water, food and water bowls, pet food, cat litter/pan, and any necessary pet medications to last at least ten days.

• Arrange a safe haven: Identify pet-friendly lodging options as part of your emergency planning process. If you cannot bring your pets with you into a shelter, arrange for them to stay at a boarding kennel or the homes of friends/family members.

• Practice advanced crating: Prepare your pet's crate in advance and even consider crating them early. Not only will this ensure you're ready to go when you do decide to evacuate, but this practice will also enhance your pet's safety and help reduce stress.
• Plan for large animals. If you have large animals/livestock, have trailers or travel containers available for all of them. Practice with your animals in advance, so they are used to being loaded and unloaded from their trailers. Work with neighbors to identify locations where large animals can be brought to on foot (especially large open areas that can provide safe spaces during fires). You may not have time or space to evacuate all of your large animals, and you will not be allowed to reenter mandatory evacuation areas even for your own animals.
• Confirm vaccination status: Make sure that your pet's vaccinations are current, and all dogs and cats are wearing collars with securely fastened up-to-date identification. Many pet shelters require proof of current vaccinations to reduce the spread of disease.

• Update identification: Ensure all pets wear identification tags with current contact information. Verify microchip registration information to maintain accurate contact details.

• If a wildfire is burning near you, leave early and take your pets. If you are evacuating your home, take your pets with you. Pets cannot fend for themselves during disasters and leaving them behind can risk both their lives and those of rescuers. Leave early and don't wait for mandatory evacuation orders.

San Diego Humane Society offers pet disaster preparedness information and downloadable checklists and window decals at sdhumane.org/disasterprep.

More ASPCA wildfire preparedness tips and information can be found here and here.

Recent San Diego Humane Society Wildfire Response Work

During the Eaton Fire in January 2025, San Diego Humane Society deployed its Emergency Response Team, veterinary professionals and support staff to assist animals affected in Pasadena. Working alongside other animal welfare organizations, the team responded to 123 calls behind fire lines - including search-and-rescue requests, welfare checks, evacuations and shelter-in-place requests - and evacuated 55 animals. San Diego Humane Society also transferred 57 adoptable dogs from Pasadena Humane, creating urgently needed shelter space for animals displaced by the fire.

Recent ASPCA Wildfire Response Work

In January 2025, the ASPCA's disaster response team deployed to Southern California, helping to assist more than 3,900 animals in the aftermath of the devastating Eaton and Palisades Fires. The ASPCA assisted with immediate animal needs through search-and-rescue, feeding-in-place operations, supply distribution, disaster management guidance, and sheltering support.

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About San Diego Humane Society
San Diego Humane Society's scope of social responsibility goes beyond adopting animals. We offer programs that strengthen the human-animal bond, prevent cruelty and neglect, provide medical care, educate the community and serve as a safety net for all pet families. Serving San Diego County since 1880, San Diego Humane Society has campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona and San Diego. For more information, please visit sdhumane.org.

About the ASPCA^®
The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) believes every animal deserves to live free from suffering. For more than 160 years, we've been on the frontlines to save, transform and protect millions of lives in the fight against animal cruelty. As the nation's first and leading animal welfare organization, we assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal relocation and placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary communities through research, training and resources. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than 2 million supporters nationwide, our commitment to eliminating animal cruelty is unwavering. For more information, visit aspca.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.