Firewise Tips Minimize Wildland Dangers
Raging wildland fires in the Los Angeles area have been the biggest news story of the past week, with numerous homes lost to the flames and thousands forced to evacuate to safer areas. The U.S. Forest Service's National Incident Information Center on Monday listed 17 new fires in Southern California and three large fires still uncontained there, with the Freeway Complex fire four miles each of Anaheim being fought by 3,699 personnel and occupying 23,722 acres.
The national Firewise Communities program offers tips for protecting property against wildland fires, starting with the initial decision to buy or build a home in a rural area. (The program, a multi-agency effort designed to reach beyond the fire service by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others to protect lives, property, and natural resources from wildland fires, is part of the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program.)
The tips include these: