Here in Virginia we have been VERY fortunate since the few weeks of extreme wildfire activity in February. March was fairly wet with no real significant wildfire activity. BUT we still have April to go. Traditionally things start greening up in April and the strong cold fronts dont seem to materialise, in other words things begin to look-up for firefighters, HOWEVER we can still have a day here or there or several days of "fire weather" and need to stay VIGILANT.
Below are just a few of the educational material you will find at Virginia Firewise wesite (link above)
Protect Your Home
Is Your Home Safe From A Wildfire? 2011 Edition (English; PDF format)
Tips and Suggestions
- 50 Things You Can Do To Protect Your Home
Evaluate
- Home Hazard Test - this easy online test will help you identify potential fire hazrads at your home and property.
Safety
- Create a barrier around your home - a Wildfire-Defensible Space
- Safety Precautions for Your Home
Preparing For Wildfires
- Checklist: When a Wildfire Approaches Your Home (English; PDF format).
- Prepare Your Home For Wildfire Season (English; PDF format).
- Evacuation Plan - plan and practice leaving your home during an emergency.
Landscaping
The Virginia Department of Forestry, in conjunction with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and the National Park Service, provides the following Land Care Steward/FireWise information. Please visit
- Advanced Master Gardener | Master Gardener | National Park Service - Fire section
- The Homeowner's Role - If you already live in, or plan to build in, a rural area, you should take fire into account.
- Virginia Firescapes FireWise Landscaping for Woodland Homes - Lists of "More or Less" Forest Fire-prone Trees, Shrubs, and Ground Covers.
- Community Wildfire Plant List (English; PDF format)
- Community Wildfire Landscaping (English; PDF format)
- Community Wildfire Plants For Landscaping (English; PDF format)
Protect Your Community
- How To Become A FireWise Community
TEXAS - Hot, windy Sunday; potential for wildfire outbreak
We set a new record for the date Saturday at 92, previous record was 90. Showing the huge temp swings possible with dry air it warmed 48 degrees from the morning low of 44. The wildfire threat is the biggest issue with Sunday's forecast. Lubbock's high near 92, low to mid 90s across the area with a few upper 80s mixed in over the southern Panhandle. There may be some blowing dust with a SW/W wind 22-32mph, gusts at times over 45mph. Record high for the date in 90. Sunset 8:09 p.m.
Michigan: Below-average winter snow means greater wildfire threat up north this spring
CADILLAC, Mich. — Michigan authorities are warning of an increased wildfire risk in the northern part of the state because of below-normal snowfall.
Wildfires burn across northern Colorado
WELD COUNTY, Colo. -- Crews worked to control several wildfires Saturday including one burning south of Briggsdale. Flames burned eastward and multiple fire agencies were called in, some structures in the path of the flames were threatened but none were lost, officials said. Firefighters finally were able to get a perimeter around the fire Saturday evening and began a mop-up on the hot spots. The fire burned a mile wide area about 5 to 6 miles long, from Weld County Roads 74 on the south to 76 on the north and County Road 83 on the west to County Road 89 on the east.
Driest winter in decades fuels brush fires across S. Fla.; Palm Beach County sees 7-fold rise
Experts are calling for the spring to be active because of the current La Nina weather pattern that is bringing above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall — great for beachgoers but bad for the Florida Division of Forestry's rangers and command staff who serve as the main guard between residents and a catastrophic wildfire. Florida wildfire activity is highest from mid-March until June, when regular summer rains begin, and signs that the early predictions are correct already are evident.
PLEASE HELP SMOKEY PREVENT WILDFIRES
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