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By Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary
of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response
Wildfire experts predict that heavy rainfall in much of the
Northwest this April and May may produce a below average fire season.
However, it’s important that people who live in areas prone to wildfire
rely too heavily on these early predictions, lest they create a false
sense of security. Now is the time to be prepared and take the necessary
precautions to protect yourself and your family against the dangers of
wildfires.
We’ve all watched in horror as devastating wildfires devoured
communities around the country in the last few years, reducing hundreds
of homes to ashes and killing more than two dozen people. Even as we
express sorrow for the families who lost loved ones, homes and
irreplaceable keepsakes, and gratitude to the men and women fighting the
blazes, we also see a “wake-up call” in the devastation.
I have met with victims and toured the damaged areas in the aftermath
of wildfires in the past. In areas that have been scorched, some houses
remain while neighboring houses are destroyed. These houses survive, not
because of a miracle, but because the owner likely took some common
sense precautions to protect their home.
When a fire is threatening your community, it’s often too late to
take the necessary actions to protect your home and belongings. We want
to prevent and prepare against these destructive wildfires as much as
possible. That’s why I encourage you to start thinking about risk
reduction now.
What should you do? First, improve the fire-resistance of your home
by creating “defensible space.” You can do this by thinning brush and
trees within 30 feet of the home, storing firewood or flammable
materials outside this zone, use fire resistant plants and vegetation in
landscaping, and creating “fuel breaks” such as driveways, gravel
walkways and lawns around the house. It’s also important to remove dead
wood, debris and low tree branches both within and beyond the 30 feet of
defensible space.
Then, consider the fact that certain building materials and
approaches can reduce risk to your home and other structures on your
property. Use fire resistant roofing and materials like stone and brick.
Cover exterior vents, attics and eaves with metal mesh screen to prevent
debris from collecting and keep sparks out. Install tempered safety
glass or fireproof shutters to protect large windows from radiant heat.
Finally, make sure water sources such as hydrants, ponds and pools
are accessible to the fire department. Know what evacuation routes you
might need in a hurry and which routes would provide good access for
firefighters. In addition, talk about your wildfire risk with your local
fire department or forestry official and your neighbors. Your community
depends on advance planning by your fire professionals and the
fire-resistant actions of your neighbors.
With more and more Americans making their homes in or near forests,
rural landscapes or remote mountain sites, responsibility - and
opportunity - for wildfire protection rests with those residents. If we
take action now, we can help firefighters do their job and limit the
risks they take protecting us from wildfire. We know they’ll do their
job. Now we must do ours.
For more information on all-hazard preparedness and wildfire threats,
please visit
www.Ready.gov and
www.FEMA.gov.
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