Wildfire Awareness Week

With fire season coming up, California will declare May 6-12, 2012 "Wildfire Awareness Week". During that week, CAL FIRE will urge homeowners to take the necessary steps to prepare their family and their homes from potential wildfires. Wildfire Awareness Week is designed to not only remind Californians of the dangers that wildfires pose, but also to educate them on how to prepare for California's wildfires.

This year, California has experienced below-average rainfall across the State. This lack of rain has caused California's green grass and vegetation to dry out earlier than expected. When combined with this summer's high temperatures, the dry vegetation will pose an increasing threat for fire danger. It only takes one little spark to ignite a wildfire.

This year's theme for Wildfire Awareness Week is once again the nationwide fire preparedness campaign of "Ready, Set, Go!". Being "Ready" for a wildfire starts by creating 100 feet of Defensible Space and hardening your home with fire-resistant building materials. "This week is a great time for residents to start getting themselves ready for the upcoming summer months," said Chief Pimlott. "Getting ready before a wildfire by creating defensible space and hardening your homes, is a vital first step in giving your property a fighting chance of surviving a wildfire."

In 2010, CAL FIRE launched the Ready for Wildfire website, www.ReadyForWildfire.org to assist homeowners in preparing for wildfires. The site offers residents simple tips and a preparedness toolkit for homeowners to make their home more resistant to wildfires and to ensure that their family is ready to evacuate early and safely when a wildfire strikes.

CAL FIRE will use Wildfire Awareness Week as an opportunity to answer questions about fire safety and how to be better prepared in an emergency situation.

2012 Wildfire Awareness Week Events

• Monday, May 7: Press Conference, CAL FIRE Aviation Management Unit, McClellan AFB, CA (Sacramento County).


• Tuesday, May 8: Press Conference, Lake Temescal Regional Park, Oakland, CA (Alameda County).


• Wednesday, May 9: Press Conference, CAL FIRE Fresno-Kings Unit Headquarters, Sanger, CA (Fresno County).


• Thursday, May 10: Press Conference, Camp Pendleton, CA (San Diego County).


• Friday, May 11: Press Conference, CAL FIRE Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base, Hemet, CA (Riverside County).

For more information on the events contact the CAL FIRE Communications Office at 916-651-3473.

Watch the 2012 Wildfire Awareness Week Press Conferences

Watch Previous Wildfire Awareness Week Press Conferences

2011

CAL FIRE TV - "Ready, Set, Go!" Video

CAL FIRE TV takes a closer look into how to you can become "Ready" for wildfire.