NFPA: Take steps to reduce wildfire risks

Quincy, MA – Recent high temperatures, severe drought conditions and strong winds are creating what the National Fire Protection Association calls one of the worst fire seasons in history, prompting the organization to urge residents to take steps that can help reduce wildfire damage.

To reduce the risk of homes and property becoming fuel for a wildfire, NFPA advises residents in wildfire-prone areas to:

• Clear leaves, needles, braches and other debris from your property, including gutters, porches and decks.
• Use non-flammable landscaping, such as rocks, within 5 feet of your home.
• Prune trees on the property so the lowest branches are 6-10 feet from the ground.
• Use native and less-flammable plants to landscape.
• Keep lawns hydrated.

More tips are offered by the Firewise Communities Program, an NFPA initiative that educates community members on protecting people and property from wildfire risks.

As of Aug. 21, more than 6.9 million acres have burned in wildfires nationally in 2012 – the most acres in the past 10 years, year-to-date – according to the National Interagency Fire Center.