May is Wildfire Awareness Month: Plan, Prepare, Prevent

May is Wildfire Awareness Month—a time to focus on prevention, preparedness, and protecting what matters most.

Research by USDA Forest Service fire scientist Jack Cohen shows that homes are far more likely to survive wildfire when the area immediately around them is clear of flammable materials. That’s the idea behind defensible space—and it works. (See video below.)

This weekend is a great place to start.Take a few simple steps around your home:

• Clear pine needles, leaves, and debris
• Create or maintain defensible space
• Check current fire restrictions before outdoor activities
• Talk with your family about your evacuation plan

Small actions now can make a big difference later. For more info: www.nfpa.org/events/wildfire-community-preparedness-day

Want to see why defensible space matters? Check out the video by Jack Cohen.

We’ll be sharing tips and resources all month long—stay with us.

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

Today was all about taking small steps to reduce wildfire risk—and every action matters.

Did you clear needles? Work on defensible space? Make a plan?

We’d love to hear—what did you do today to get wildfire ready?

If you didn’t get to it today, that’s okay—there’s still time this weekend (and all month long during Wildfire Awareness Month!)

We’ll be sharing tips, tools, and ideas throughout May to help you stay prepared.