Tucked into a narrow river valley at 4,300 feet, Sierra City, California, is surrounded by dense forests and the towering Sierra Buttes, which rise to 8,600 feet. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows one another. Fewer than 300 people call it home, and nearly 70% are over the age of 65.
There’s only one main road in or out, cell service is spotty at best, and a wildfire threat here can quickly become a dangerous situation.
Wildfires are not uncommon to the region. Recent events include the 2020 North Complex Fire (318,000 acres) and the 2021 Dixie Fire (963,000 acres) which burned nearby in similarly wooded terrain. In any wildfire, minutes matter and in Sierra City, where evacuation can be slow and communications unreliable, early warnings are critical.
Taking Action and Finding the Right Data Source
Concerned about their neighbors’ safety, a group of local activists came together to build a fire weather monitoring program tailored to Sierra City’s needs. Their goal: to give people as much time as possible to prepare, act, and, if necessary, get out safely.
These activists found Synoptic Data while searching for reliable, real-time environmental data in their area. Through the platform, they identified local weather stations and connected with Synoptic to request access to the data through their Open Access Program. The Open Access Program provides access to publicly available weather and environmental data through Synoptic’s Weather API. While it’s primarily used by students, the program also supports community safety projects like Sierra City’s.
“A simple email explaining our small community group and objective to Carlos at Synoptic, and our Open Access account was quickly approved,” said Rich Esposto, one of the program’s organizers. “It was the key to moving forward. The API was solid.”
The program was a good fit for the Sierra City community, allowing them the ability to continuously monitor local real-time weather conditions.
Communications in a Rural Community
The activist group built a custom software application using Synoptic’s Weather API. When wind speed, temperature, humidity, or other monitored parameters cross pre-set thresholds, the system automatically alerts more than 100 residents via email. In more serious situations, they turn to tried-and-true tools: local radio communications to spread the word quickly, and, when necessary, sirens, although those aren’t always trusted to work every time.
No one is ordered to evacuate. Instead, the information is there so people can make their own decisions with enough lead time to take action. For Sierra City, where the “evacuation plan” is essentially getting on the highway and joining a slow-moving line of cars, that time can make all the difference.
“Evacuation is straightforward,” one organizer said. “You get on the highway, you get in line, and you leave until it’s safe. The challenge is knowing when it’s time to start. If we can give folks an extra hour to pack up and get ready, that could save lives.”
Empowering Residents and Saving Lives
Thanks to the dedication of local volunteers, and the power of real-time data, Sierra City is better prepared for fire weather, helping protect one another in a place where community truly comes first.
Residents can monitor current conditions and sign up for alerts at: Sierra City Fire Risk Dashboard
