Images of a raging blaze that scorched 28,000 acres in Southern California over the weekend serve as a reminder that as temperatures rise in the Pacific Northwest, so does the risk of wildfires.
In fact, in the past 48 hours 11 wildfires sparked in our state, fortunately, none developed into the huge inferno California just went through.
But we’re not immune. The 1902 Yacolt Burn destroyed almost 300,000 acres in Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties in less than two days.
To keep anything like that from ever happening in our state again, we could all use some brushing-up on wildfire safety and this is just the right time to do so.
This year’s Wildfire Awareness Week, May 5 – 11, encourages Washingtonians to focus on “knowing our role” when it comes to preparing communities for wildfires by learning about defensible space, fire-resilient building construction, and community wildfire prevention planning.
So check out these websites to get some pointers:
Wildfires often begin unnoticed. They spread quickly and can be devastating, so reduce your risk by preparing now, before one strikes.