Wildfire Prevention Week

It’s Wildfire Prevention Week in Pennsylvania, and with 85% of PA wildfires occurring in March, April and May we couldn’t resist talking about it!  We won’t steal Smokey Bear’s famous line, but it is true that the actions you take can seriously reduce the risk of these devastating and expensive fires.

Wildfires are a costly disaster in various ways.  Wildfires can not only destroy our beautiful forests and habitat for Pennsylvania wildlife, but they can be disruptive to people as well.  Businesses or homes may be destroyed or individuals may need to be evacuated from their homes for extended periods of time.  Wildfires can shut down major highways, close schools, and contaminate the air we breathe.  Wildfires are expensive to battle as well, often requiring large amounts of man power and equipment for extended periods of time.  We must also consider the biggest cost during wildfires and that is the loss of life. Not only do these fires place civilians at risk, but wildfires place fire crews into dangerous situations and sadly claim the lives of firefighters each year.  As you can see the impact of wildfires can grow as quickly as the fire itself, making prevention of the utmost importance! 

Let’s first talk about responsible debris burning!  It is not uncommon in our area for people to burn debris in their yards.  Though they seem harmless and “controlled” these small fires can turn into major problems if we don’t take a few precautions.

1.      Be sure to comply with local burning regulations.  These rules are in place for a reason and protect you and your neighbors!

2.      Check the weather forecast before starting your fire.  Windy days are NOT good for burning as they can cause fire to spread quickly!

3.      Chose a safe site to burn.  That means avoiding areas close to low lying tree limbs, buildings or cars.

4.      Take a few steps to prepare your burn site.  Burn in an area surrounded by gravel or dirt (free of dried vegetation).  Also wet down the area around your burn site to prevent potential fire spread.

5.      Always stay with your fire!  Unattended fires often become out of control fires.

6.      Only burn materials that you are supposed to burn.  Plastic, tires and hazardous waste are not to be burned. 

The risk doesn’t stop at debris burning, so there are a few other things to keep in mind!  Be responsible when visiting and traveling through forests or wild land areas.  Extinguish and dispose of cigarettes properly.  Throwing a cigarette out the window in a forest area is NEVER a good idea.  Be responsible with campfires and only build them in approved places and be sure to extinguish them properly!  Never use any type of fireworks in woodland areas and avoid using flammable liquids as well. 

For those living in and around forests and wild land areas there are a few actions you can take to protect your home.  First, consider investing in landscaping that consists of fire resistant shrubs and trees.  Consider using fire resistant materials in the construction of your home or when replacing roofs, windows or siding. Have a garden hose that can reach all areas around your house so that you can wet down your property in the event a fire is approaching your home.  Rake leaves, dead limbs, twigs and all other flammable vegetation and remove from your property.  Also remove tree limbs that extend over your roof line and store firewood away from your house. 

The final and possibly most important lesson we want you to remember when it comes to wildfires, if you see any signs of a fire report it immediately and move to safer ground.  The sooner you report a wildfire, the sooner fire crews can work to get the flames under control! 

-Meg Silverstrim