Before Wildfires Rage
Release Date: June 4, 2003
Release Number: R10-03-47
Seattle, WA -- Despite a wet and warm spring, fire officials warn that while the 2003 fire season may not be as severe as 2002, complacency could prove deadly. Early snow melt is anticipated for Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, and may cause downed trees and debris to dry out in higher elevations, inviting an early and extended fire season. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) predictive services division is projecting an above average fire outlook for Eastern Washington, Oregon and Southwestern Idaho, and wildfires have already been reported in Western Washington. The Department of Homeland Security, FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration offer a single message: The time to mitigate disasters' worst effects is now…we must all take effective action before disaster strikes!
To protect homes from wildfires, FEMA Regional Director John Pennington urges the creation of "defensible perimeters" by clearing flammable debris away from homes and structures, particularly those in urban interface areas nestled near forested tracts. "Prevention is worth a pound of cure, and every fire season I spend the first few weekends cutting trees and clearing underbrush away from my own home," said Pennington. "Many of us tend to think of wildfires as a 'wilderness' or 'east of the mountains' thing. Fires west of the cascades may be few and far between, but when our woods go up, they really go up, placing a lot more homes at risk."
To protect homes from wildfires, Pennington urged the creation of "defensible perimeters" by clearing flammable debris well away from structures, outbuildings and phone and power poles:
- Establish firebreaks around the perimeter of structures, power poles and property.
- Cut back flammable weeds and brush and remove tree branches to a height of 15 feet.
- Stack firewood away from your home.
- Store combustible materials only in approved containers, and away from the house.
- Keep roofs, chimneys and gutters clean.
- Keep a non-flammable screen over the flue opening of chimneys or stovepipes.
- Use fire resistant materials when retrofitting or renovating structures.
- Install smoke detectors on every floor, and near sleeping areas.
- Have fire tools (shovel, rake, water bucket and a ladder that can reach the roof) handy.
- Plan and rehearse family evacuation plans.
"You can't prevent a natural disaster from occurring…but, you can and MUST take steps ahead of time to reduce loss of life and property," said Pennington. "We can take action before disasters strike to mitigate their worst effects, remove some of the pain, and speed the recovery process."
Last Modified: Tuesday, 03-Jun-2003 14:31:30