Maricopa County officials are encouraging residents to create a defensible space during Wildfire Awareness Week.
A wildfire is a fire that rages out of control in the wilderness, like a rangeland, countryside or forest. Wildfires often begin unnoticed. These fires are usually triggered by lightning or accidents, such as campers or hikers that did not take care of their campfire properly. They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees, and homes.
Create and Maintain Defensible Space around your home
Defensible space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire—either from direct flame contact or radiant heat.
Maintain your Home to Harden it to Fires
- Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
- Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
- Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
- Review your homeowner’s insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home’s contents.
Here are 13 tips to fire ‘harden’ your home
Create your Own Emergency Supply Kit
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Manual can opener for food
- Radio: Battery-powered or hand crank radio
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
- Etc.… Here FEMA’s read.gov emergency supply kit list www.ready.gov/kit
Develop your family Communication Plans
- Collect Important Contact Information
- Create a paper copy of the contact information for your family and other important people/offices, such as medical facilities, doctors, schools or service providers
Share
Make sure everyone carries a copy in his or her backpack, purse, or wallet.
Plan
Have regular household meetings to review and practice your plan
Develop your Family Evacuation Plans
Your family evacuation plan identifies places where you and your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood. Use the Family Emergency Plan to decide these locations before a disaster.
Act immediately when fire strikes