This week is Wildfire Awareness Week

In recognition of Wildfire Awareness Week, May 5 – 11, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages everyone to learn their role in preparing for wildfire safety.

This year, DNR is encouraging homeowners, land managers, first responders, developers, business owners, and civic leaders to focus on “Knowing Your Role” when it comes to preparing communities for wildfire. Visit the Fire Adapted Communities website (http://fireadapted.org/) to learn more about defensible space, fire-resilient building construction, community wildfire prevention planning, the Firewise Program, (www.firewise.org) and Ready, Set, Go!(http://www.wildlandfirersg.org/).

This is the first year that governors from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and California have joined together to proclaim Wildfire Awareness Week. It’s an important week to learn more about joining forces in local communities to become better prepared.

If designing or updating a home’s landscape, think of ways to incorporate firebreaks (things that don’t burn) into the landscape design. Defensible space doesn’t have to be an eyesore. Some examples of firebreaks are: concrete, brick or gravel walkways, concrete flower box borders or planters, and water features, such as a pond. Go to http://www.firewise.org for more specific tips on how to protect homes.

The first weekend in May is not usually a busy time for fire suppression forces in southwest Washington, but this past weekend saw an unusually high number of wildfires due to dry east winds across this area. To date as of Monday afternoon, 11 wildfires covering approximately 264 acres were reported statewide, with nine already successfully contained by Washington State Department of Natural Resources firefighting teams.