When (and What) Is Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
If you’re concerned about wildfires in the United States and Canada, then it’s important to participate in the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. This national campaign is hosted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm. The eighth annual celebration of this event falls on Saturday, May 1, 2021.
National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day was organized in response to the growing threat of wildfires. It focuses on fire prevention and risk reduction that homeowners and communities can use to create a safer place to live.
How to Get Involved
The Prep Day Toolkit is full of tips to help you and your community prepare for wildfires. It includes potential project ideas, like how to make your neighborhood safer, as well as tips to make those projects a success. The toolkit even includes some best practices on how to safely work together, including safety tips to reduce the risk of injury while bending, lifting, and stacking materials.
Consider spreading the news about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day with your community. Get your neighbors and other homeowners involved to focus on improving the safety of your street and neighborhood. See if your neighbors would be interested in designing and completing your own Wildfire Community Preparedness Day project.
You can also approach community groups like your fire department, state land agencies, and chamber of commerce to see if they’re planning projects or if they’re willing to get involved – there might already be Wildfire Community Preparedness Day events near you.
In addition to downloading the toolkit, you can also get involved by sharing social media posts and helping with outreach. The NFPA website offers handy social media cards that you can download and share to spread awareness of wildfire risks. Be sure to use the hashtag #wildfireprepday when you share them.
How to Prepare Your Home
Regardless of whether your community is participating in the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, you can still take important wildfire mitigation precautions around your home.
Home wildfire safety starts with landscaping. Prune trees and low-hanging branches to at least four feet from the ground, and sweep and rake pine needles and leaves away from at least three to five feet from your home’s foundation. It’s best to extend this area to 30 feet from your home for maximum protection.
Clear out items that are stored under your deck or porch, and make sure that gas tanks and other combustibles aren’t stored near your home.
Establish or update a family evaluation plan and communication plan. This is a good time to create an evacuation kit – don’t forget to plan for your pets’ needs and ensure that their essential items, like foods and medications, are also included in your evacuation kit.
Ember Defense | Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
Ember Wildfire Defense Solutions can also help you to protect your home with our home-hardening package. The package includes an evaluation of your home to establish multiple layers of defense, the installation of the best wildfire defense products that are suited for your home, and a home insurance assessment to ensure you’re not missing out on important coverage. You’ll enjoy greater peace of mind, knowing that your home is protected from wildfires in all of the essential ways.
With Wildfire Community Preparedness Day approaching, now is the perfect time to contact Ember Wildfire Defense Solutions to learn about how we can help you protect your home. You can also learn more about the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day at www.nfpa.org.