Wildlife Preparedness…

Being Ready for wildfire starts with maintaining an adequate defensible space and by hardening your home by using fire resistant building materials. Defensible space is the buffer you create by removing dead plants, grass and weeds. This buffer helps to keep the fire away from your home.

Wildfire…

A wildfire, bushfire, wild land fire or rural fire is an unplanned, unwanted, uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation starting in rural areas and urban areas. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire can also be classified more specifically as a forest fire, brush fire, bushfire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, prairie fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire. Many organizations consider wildfire to mean an unplanned and unwanted fire, while wild land-fire is a broader term that includes prescribed fire as well as wildland fire use.

Wildfires pose a serious threat to more than 72,000 U.S. communities. Continued drought, warmer temperatures and increased dried vegetation in our forests have made fire seasons progressively worse over the past 50 years. Residents can, however, help prepare and protect their home and neighborhood from a wildfire.

In and Around Your Home…

 • Keep leaves and needles off your roof and deck, and remove anything that can burn within 3–5 feet of your home’s perimeter.

 • From 5 feet to a minimum of 30 feet out, thin and space vegetation, remove dead leaves and needles, prune shrubs and trees.

 • Screen in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.

 • Remove flammable materials (wood piles, propane tanks) within 30 feet of your home’s foundation and outbuildings, including garages and sheds. If it can catch fire, don’t let it touch your house, deck or porch.

 • Wildfire can spread to treetops. Prune branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet from the ground.

 • Keep your lawn hydrated and maintained. If it is brown, cut it down to reduce fire intensity. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel for wildfire.

 • Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger. Dispose of these items quickly to reduce fuel for fire.

 • Inspect shingles or roof tiles. Replace or repair shingles that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration.

 • Cover exterior attic vents with metal wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch to prevent sparks from entering the home.

 • Enclose eaves and screen soffit vents using 1/8 inch mesh metal screening to prevent ember entry.

 • Assemble an emergency supply kit and include important documents, medications, cash and personal identification.

 • Develop an emergency evacuation plan and practice it with everyone in your home. Plan two ways out of your neighborhood and designate a meeting place outside the potentially impacted area.

In Your Community…

• Talk to your local fire department about how to prepare, when to evacuate and the response you can expect in the event of a wildfire.

• If you are part of a homeowner association, identify regulations that incorporate proven preparedness landscaping, home design and building material use.

When a Wildfire Approaches…

• Stay aware of the latest news and updates from your local media and fire department. Get your family, home and pets prepared to evacuate.

 • Move patio or deck furniture, cushions, door mats and potted plants in wooden containers either indoors or as far away from the home, shed and garage as possible.

 • Close and protect your home’s openings, including attic and basement doors and vents, windows, garage doors and pet doors to prevent embers from penetrating your home.

 • Connect garden hoses and fill any pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, tubs or other large containers with water. Firefighters have been known to use attached garden hoses and additional water sources as needed.

 • Leave as early as possible, before you’re told to evacuate. Do not linger once evacuation orders have been given. Promptly leaving your home and neighborhood clears roads for firefighters to get equipment in place to fight the fire, and helps ensure residents’ safety.

 • Return home only when authorities say it is safe.

Source:  National Fire Protection Association – http://www.nfpa.org/disaster