March 26, 2024

It’s Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week, and state and local emergency agencies are encouraging the public to prepare now for the possibility of a fire near your home.

Officials say you can protect your house by creating defensible space—free of leaves, debris or flammable materials, such as firewood— within 30 feet. Trim trees and shrubs so that they are not touching or hanging over your house, and clear leaves or pine needles from your roof, gutters and porches. You can visit firewise.org for more tips and information.

Arizona emergency agencies use the “Ready, Set, Go!” program to notify residents about possible evacuations. They say you should always be in Ready status, with an awareness of potential hazards in your area. Make a family emergency plan; and put together an emergency go-bag with clothes, food and water, and other supplies. You can sign up for emergency notifications through your county Sheriff’s Office; and make sure you know where to get updates on weather alerts and other emergency information.

Set means your area is being threatened, and you need to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Consider voluntarily relocating with family or friends, or at an established emergency shelter; and make sure you have plans for pets or livestock.

And Go means there is imminent, life-threatening danger, and you need to evacuate immediately.

Officials also ask everyone to help prevent wildfires by making that there are no trailer chains or anything else dragging from your vehicle that could create sparks on the pavement; never throw cigarette butts out your window; do not park your vehicle over high grass.And when camping, always drown your campfire and stir the coals with water until they are cold to the touch.

Josh Freeman | KAZM News Director | josh@mellowmountainradio.com