Widespread drought has been a concern in recent years, and all that dry undergrowth creates textbook conditions for wildfire. The US Forest Service estimates that nearly one third of American residences are potentially vulnerable to wildfires affecting adjacent woodlands and vegetation.
Protect yourself by reviewing your insurance to make sure you’re adequately covered. Protect your home by creating a defensible space of thirty to one hundred feet around your property. This means trimming back any tree branches touching the roof or walls of your home and making sure any firewood is kept away from the house. Have an emergency plan and make sure all family members know what to do when disaster strikes. Be familiar with the emergency plans at your work and at your child’s school because the emergency may not be at home.