FIRE SEASON

Fire Season in Pacific Northwest usually begins in early July and typically ends in late September when regular rain returns to the area. However, wildfires occur every month of the year and pose a very real threat to people and property.

In 2021, overall, there were 4,075 incidents in the NW and over 1.5 million acres were affected by fire— 125% of the ten-year average. Wildfire has become a great presence again in the region, heralding a new normal. Bigger, more threatening fires are happening and predicted to continue. Wildfire experts attribute increased fire risk in the Western U.S. to warm and dry conditions, drought, insect outbreaks and unusual or anomalous weather conditions.

Bad-fire summers cause smoke seasons, as well. Despite our most sophisticated approaches to putting out fires, smoky days are now a new summer norma. King and Pierce counties now experience about 30 smoke days per year.

Fire Protection Services

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY

During a wildfire, smoke can make the outdoor air unhealthy to breathe. Local officials may advise you to stay indoors during a smoke event. You should be aware that some of the smoke from outdoors can enter your home and make it unhealthy to breathe indoor air, too.

If you are close to a wildfire, the fire itself, as well as heavy smoke and ash, can pose serious, immediate risks to your safety and health. You and your family should be prepared to evacuate immediately if told to do so. Farther from a wildfire, you may be exposed to smoke even if the fire itself is far away.

Take steps now to prepare for fre season. Being prepared for fire season is especially important for the health of children, older adults, and people with heart or lung disease.

Here’s how you can help protect your family and loved ones from wildfire smoke.

  • If any family member has heart or lung disease, including asthma, check with your doctor about what you should do during smoke events. Have a plan to manage your condition.

  • Stock up so you don’t have to go out when it’s smoky. Have several days of medications on hand. Buy groceries that do not need to be refrigerated or cooked because cooking can add to indoor air pollution.

  • Create a “clean room” in your home. Choose a room with no freplace and as few windows and doors as possible, such as a bedroom. Use a portable air cleaner in the room.

  • Buy a portable air cleaner before there is a smoke event. Make sure it has high ef ciency HEPA flters and it is the right size for the room.

  • Know how you will get alerts and health warnings, including air quality reports, public service announcements (PSAs), and social media warning you about high fre risk or an active fire.

  • Ask an air conditioning professional what kind of high ef ciency flters to use in your home’s system and how to close the fresh-air intake if your central air system or room air conditioner has one.

  • Have a supply of N95 respirators and learn how to use them. They are sold at many home improvement stores and online.

  • Organize your important items ahead of time, including fnancial and personal documents.

  • Know your evacuation routes and where to go if you have to evacuate. Make sure to prepare your children, and consider your pets when making an evacuation plan.

PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY

Owning a property is one of the most important investments most people make in their lives. We work hard to provide a home and a future for ourselves and our loved ones. Why risk losing it when fire hits close to home? Wildfires dramatically alter the terrain and ground conditions of the affected area and can destroy homes, businesses, infrastructure, natural resources, and agriculture. While you can’t prevent all wildfires from happening, there are some ways to secure your property to minimize damage and keep your home and your future safe.

Here’s how you can help protect your home from wildfires.

  • To increase your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire, choose fire-resistant building materials and limit the amount of flammable vegetation in the three home ignition zones. The zones include the Immediate Zone (0 to 5 feet around the house), the Intermediate Zone (5 to 30 feet), and the Extended Zone (30 to 100 feet).

  • To reduce ember ignitions and fire spread, trim branches that overhang the home, porch, and deck and prune branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet (depending on their height) from the ground. Remove plants containing resins, oils, and waxes. Use crushed stone or gravel instead of flammable mulches in the Immediate Zone (0 to 5 feet around the house). Keep your landscape in good condition.

  • Regularly clean and remove debris from gutters. Debris can catch fire from wind-blown embers. Regular maintenance reduces the likelihood of something catching on fire on top of your home.

  • A key step to creating a defensible space is removing dry grass, brush, dead leaves and pine needles. Replace highly flammable plants with fire resistive, high moisture content varieties.

  • Install for replace exterior wall covers. Exterior wall coverings that are noncombustible or fire-resistant and not susceptible to melting are recommended. A minimum fire-resistance rating of one hour for the wall assembly is recommended.

  • Never store flammable materials underneath decks or porches. Remove dead vegetation and debris from under decks and porches and between deck board joints.

  • Develop, discuss, and practice an emergency action plan with everyone in your home. Include details for handling pets, large animals, and livestock.

  • Know two ways out of your neighborhood and have a predesignated meeting place. Always evacuate if you feel it’s unsafe to stay—don’t wait to receive an emergency notification if you feel threatened from the fire.

For more information visit the NFPA Wildfire website or Firewise USA® or contact us!

Red Hawk Fire Protection is here to help keep you and your family safe!