Returning home after a wildfire

After a wildfire many dangers remain. Those returning home should be aware of their surroundings and go through the returning home checklist . Other concerns after a wildfire are the increased rate of erosion and flooding in California.

Wildfires dramatically change the landscape and ground conditions, which can lead to the increased risk of flooding even with light rains. Natural, unburned vegetation and soil normally act as a sponge during a rainfall event. However, wildfires create physical changes in the landscape. The heat from a fire can bake the ground, creating a surface that will not absorb water, thereby increasing the speed with which water flows off the slope. When these normal and protective functions are compromised or eliminated by a severe wildfire the potential for significant erosion, flooding, and debris flows is magnified.