Wildfire Safety & Preparedness

Wildfire protection planning is one of the most important components of a wildfire safety strategy in your community.  According to the U.S. Forest Service, less than 10% of communities at risk from wildfire have developed a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).  This is why The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) started the National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, which is a national campaign held on the first Saturday in May that encourages people and organizations to take action by:

  1. Raising wildfire safety awareness
  2. Reducing wildfire risks and
  3. Helping individuals and active fire communities learn how to best prepare their homes for wildfires

Some Wildfire Facts:

  • Every year, wildfires burn across the U.S., and more and more people are living where wildfires are a real risk. Nearly 45 million homes abut or intermingle with wildlands and more than 72,000 U.S. communities are now at risk.  See just a few examples below:
    • Nov-Dec 2016, close to western North Carolina, we had the Gatlinburg, Tennessee wildfire: 17,900 acres burned, 2,460 building destroyed, $2 billion in damages, 14 fatalities
    • 9/27/2020 California-Glass Fire-Napa and Sonoma Counties: 67,484 acres, 9555 structures destroyed
    • Jan-Dec 2021 California: 8,367 total fires, 3 million acres, 3,629 structures lost, 3 fatalities

Wildfire Personal Responsibility-Preparing in Advance:

  • Complete a home inventory – this will assist in talking with your insurance provider should you suffer a loss due to a wildfire. Consider making a video walk through of your possessions and keep that in a safe off-site location.
  • Sign up for local Emergency Notifications/Alerts
  • Have an Evacuation Plan and a designated meeting place where family members will reconnect after the evacuation. Ensure everyone in the household knows the plan and meeting place location.
  • Know where evacuation centers will be located in your community
  • Have an off-site phone number, (relative, etc.) where family members can check in and provide status information
  • Have a plan and supplies for your pets
Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Checklist?

NFPA Downloadable Wildfire Resources:

Wildfire Safety Tips:

  • Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks. This prevents embers from igniting your home.
  • Remove dead vegetation and other items from under your deck or porch, and within 10 feet of the house.
  • Screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.
  • Remove flammable materials (firewood stacks, 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 tree tops.
  • Prune trees so the lowest branches are 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 those 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 under-eave and soffit vents or screens with metal mesh to prevent ember entry.

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Source for Content:  U.S. Fire Administration and National Fire Protection Association