SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A warm breeze swept over a parking lot in the El Dorado County town of Cool as Becky and Forrest Batson walked to get lunch Sunday. It's a reminder of the threat.
"I think our fire safety.... we’re as ready as we can be," said Forrest. "(You) just pray it doesn’t come your way."
Those prayers were answered five miles from their house on Saturday as firefighters from nearly eight agencies battled — and ultimately quashed — the 16-acre Creek Fire.
"It was all northeast of us, so we were in a relatively safe place. But the wind around here can change, and if it comes from the north and pushes in that direction, we were definitely in the path of the fire," said Forrest. "So (we) just have to be ready to evacuate."
Constant preparedness is key for people living in Northern California's Sierra Nevada region, but it's not just people living in the foothills like the Batsons that need to be prepared. Dry, grassy areas like those that surround Sacramento County are a threat.
"Any time you see these large vegetation fires, they’re all at the mercy of the wind. If that wind picks up or changes directions, we have to change our tactics immediately," said Sacramento Fire Department Captain Justin Sylvia. "These hot temperatures that are coming this week are really going to drive these fires a lot faster."
Captain Sylvia said the forecasted scorching temperatures, warm northerly winds, and low humidity mean it’s time to get ready now. That includes having a plan ready and a 'Go Bag' packed with important documents and irreplaceable items in case evacuations are ordered.
"The biggest prevention component to it is making that defensible space.... making sure there’s nothing combustible stacked right against your house," said Sylvia. "Don't do that defensible space in the afternoon or evening time. Make sure that it's first thing in the morning when temperatures are still cool, and you're out there being very mindful of your conditions."
Even though they've only been forced to evacuate twice, having lived in the foothills for three decades, Becky and Forrest stay ready, but they hope their years of preparations won’t be needed this week.
"Do what you can with the weed-eating and the cleaning the gutters," said Forrest. "You get all antsy about it, and it’s like man, I just have to trust in God. Pray and hope and thank the firefighters."
Watch more from ABC10: Northern California to bake under 110° heat, plus critical "triple threat" fire danger
