Local fire agencies are aiming to prepare residents in the event of a wildfire. Friday May 1st kicks off the first day of Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month. The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District has put together multiple events to help residents be ready. "The theme for Wildfire Awareness Month is 'Improve your odds, prepare for a Wildfire,” said Fire Marshal Amy Ray.
The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District & Living with Fire have created an extensive list of events about fire protection during the next few weeks. "There's an event in Washoe Valley at the station that's located off by Bower's Mansion tomorrow. We're also doing the Wildfire Awareness Trail and Half Marathon and 5K race which is being held on May 9th at Washoe State Park,” said Ray. "We're going to be giving out information on wildfire awareness."
Other programs include fundraising and yard debris collection events. The majority of wildfires that happen in the United States are human-caused. Around less than 10% are sparked by lightning. But with more thunderstorms on the horizon, that's still a possibility. "May and June we see some lightning events and also see some of our wind events,” said Ray.
Firefighters want to remind you of stuff you can start doing now to prepare your home. "Cleaning pine needles off your roofs and out of your gutters. Making your property is fire safe,” said Ray.
It's also important to have an escape route and be prepared to leave at any moment…
We talked with Zanny Marsh, the executive director of the Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter. She says fire in the Silver State are very frequent, especially in our area. "About every 4 days, we respond to a home fire disaster in Northern Nevada," Marsh. "Anticipate that you're never safe. You don't really know if it will be you,” said Marsh. "We encourage people to be Red Cross Ready which means to have a kit, a go kit.” Kits should be filled with an extra set of clothes, food, water, medications and set of personal documents. Supplies for pets are also recommended if you have animals. Most importantly – fire experts want you to make it a priority to practice an escape from a fire. "Practice those events. We encourage not only practicing home fire safety drills but also doing an evacuation drill with your family so your prepared, should there be an event,” said Ray.
According to the Red Cross, more than 70,000 homes are destroyed by fires every year.
To see the full list of events go here: http://www.livingwithfire.info/wildfire-awareness-month
Washoe County encourages people to download "Code Red," an emergency alert system that lets you know of any potential hazards around you, including a wildfire. More Code Red information here: http://www.washoecounty.us/em/RegionalAlerts.php
Channel 2 News will also have the latest fire watch coverage on the air, online and on Facebook and Twitter whenever wildfires spark in Northern Nevada.
