CAL FIRE Kicks off Wildfire Awareness Week

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared May 2-8 Wildfire Awareness Week to remind Californians to be prepared for wildfires and vigilant as the state approaches peak fire season. CAL FIRE will also be using the week to highlight the importance of the homeowner’s role in preparing their property and families ahead of time to survive a wildfire.

This year’s Wildfire Awareness Week theme is based on the nationwide fire preparedness campaign “Ready, Set, Go”. The slogan “Wildfire is coming... Is your home ready?” focuses on the role homeowners have in being ready for a wildfire. Being Ready for a wildfire starts with maintaining an adequate Defensible Space and hardening homes by using fire resistant building materials. Fire officials firmly believe that it is the combination of both Defensible Space and the hardening of homes that give a house the best chance of surviving a wildfire.

To assist homeowner’s preparation for wildfires, CAL FIRE plans to launch a new website during Wildfire Awareness Week, which provides residents the steps to make their home more resistant to wildfires and to ensure that their family is ready to evacuate early and safely when wildfire strikes. The website is www.ReadyForWildfire.org.