What You Can Do To Prevent Forest Fires

There’s something magical about escaping to a cabin or a fire lookout in the woods. For many, summer isn’t complete without an annual trip off the grid.

But this year’s wildfire season has been particularly dire, with firefighters working around the clock — and some losing their lives — to keep our favorite spots safe.

If you’re looking for ways to protect your home or support firefighting efforts, here are a few places to start:

Learn about fire prevention and safety

When it comes to preventing forest fires, abiding by these three “don’ts” can go a long way.


Don’t get in the way of firefighters. This one may seem obvious but parking your car on the side of the road to watch, for example, could be a roadblock for equipment and personnel getting to and from fire sites.
Don’t send a drone to photograph a fire. This may seem like a small thing, but this summer drones have proven to be a hazard for helicopters trying to fight fires.
Don’t start or abandon a campfire! The U.S. Forest Service regularly finds abandoned campsites with fires that haven’t been completely extinguished.
For more information about fire prevention and safety, the U.S. Fire Administration develops and delivers education programs in partnership with other agencies and groups. They also have several free materials on their website to help increase awareness.

In the event of a wildfire, the American Red Cross also has lots of information about how to respond and evacuate.

Get connected with locals

If you have a property in a high-risk area for forest fires, register your home phone number and address with local authorities so they can contact you through Reverse 911 if an evacuation alert is issued.

Attend any meetings held by local firefighters to get to know those in the trenches. This is a great way to learn about their plan, challenges and what to expect. It’s also a great way to meet your neighbors and talk about your evacuation plan.

Donate money to the cause

If you really want to do something for firefighters, monetary donations are the best way to give without getting in the way. You can stay local and support your ranger district, or go big and support a national foundation or agency.
From zillow.com