As the World Grapples with the COVID-19 Health Crisis, NFPA and State Farm Provide Guidance about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day to Participants Blog Post created by michelesteinberg on Mar 20, 2020

NFPA and State Farm are committed to safety from wildfire, but we’re also concerned for your personal and family safety, and the safety of your community in the face of the coronavirus threat. We created the annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day campaign as a way to rally people around the cause of wildfire safety and to turn ideas into action that can make a difference. But, we’re facing a global public health threat today, and we realize that COVID-19 may be preventing you from meeting to carry out your plans or to do the activities you would normally do together, now and on May 2.

NFPA and State Farm urge everyone not to feel pressured to have gatherings or events that may compromise public health at this time; we support efforts to postpone your event and planning activities until the end of the year or such time that it is safe to do so.

In place of in-person events, NFPA and State Farm suggest conducting activities you can do from home and still help raise awareness of wildfire safety such as posting and sharing Facebook and Twitter messages and tips with others in your community. Other home activities include:

• Raking and removing pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of 3 to 5 feet of a home’s foundation. As time permits – continue up to a 30-foot distance around the home. Dispose of collected debris in appropriate trash receptacles.
• Cleaning pine needles from roof and gutters and paying attention to maintaining the home ignition zone.
• Getting out your measuring tape and seeing how close wood piles are located to the home. If closer than 30 feet, they need to be relocated and moved at least 30’ away from structures.
• Sweeping porches and decks clearing them of leaves and pine needles. Raking under decks, porches, sheds and play structures.
• Mowing grasses to a height of four inches or less
• Removing items stored under decks and porches and relocating them to a storage shed, garage, or basement. Gasoline cans and portable propane tanks should never be stored indoors and should be located away from the home.

Find these NFPA resources and more at www.nfpa.org 

Brought to you by Aukum Fairplay Fire Safe Council at www.affsc.org.