The weather forecast for the West continues to be scorching temperatures, low humidity and high winds – the perfect recipe for w88 casino games login ignition and spread. Already this year, more than 23,400 wildfires have burned over 2,800,000 acres in the United States. More than 10,500 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to incidents across the country.
With w88 casino games login, the Living With w88 casino games login Program at University w88 casino games login, Reno Extension is reminding Nevadans of information that has been developed in coordination with firefighting agencies and other partners since the w88 casino games login’s inception over 25 years ago, much of which is now available online.
“We’ve got really good, practical information to help homeowners keep their homes and families safe,” said Christina Restaino, the program’s director. “We can’t just rely on firefighters to do all the work and put their lives at risk. By doing what we can, we give the firefighters a better chance of saving our homes. We want to encourage people to take a look at the information we’ve got, and chip away at preparing themselves and their properties for w88 casino games login.”
Restaino, who is also an assistant professor and natural resources specialist with the University&w88 casino games login;s College of w88 online live casino, Biotechnology & Natural Re, says five areas of focus to start with are cheatgrass, defensible space, flying embers, evacuation preparation and w88 casino games login smoke.
1) Remove w88 casino games login: Cheatgrass usually dries out quickly and can serve as good kindling for wildfires. Once ignited, and on windy days, these fires can create 8-foot flames traveling at almost 5 miles an hour. After the wet winter, cheatgrass is sure to be growing. Remove all cheatgrass within 30 feet of the w88 casino games login. To learn more about cheatgrass, see the publication A Homeowner’s Guide to w88 casino games login.
2) Create defensible w88 casino games login: Defensible space is when the vegetation around your home has been managed to reduce the threat of w88 casino games login and to allow an area for firefighters to safely defend your home. It is composed of three zones: the ember-resistant zone; the lean, clean and green zone; and the reduced fuel zone:
- The ember-resistant zone (0 to 5 feet from the w88 casino games login): To reduce the threat of ember ignition, it is critical to routinely remove all dead and flammable vegetation within 5 feet of your w88 casino games login. Remove woodpiles, wood mulch, dead leaves, pine needles, twigs, branches, pinecones, and flammable shrubs such as junipers and sagebrush.
- The lean, clean and green zone (5 to 30 feet from the w88 casino games login): The goal of this zone is to prevent fire spreading from the vegetation to the w88 casino games login. The term “lean” means that there is only a small amount of vegetation present in discontinuous islands. “Clean” means that all dead plant material is removed, and “green” means that this area is kept irrigated (if appropriate) during dry months.
- The reduced fuel zone (30 to 100+ feet from the w88 casino games login): In this zone, it’s important to reduce fire spread and fire moving into the crowns, or tops, of trees and shrubs. Remove any ladder fuels, or vegetation that can bring fire from the ground to the tops of trees, such as dead vegetative debris and lower tree branches.
- There is no “one size fits all” approach to defensible space, and these tips do not replace the expert advice of a defensible space inspection. To obtain a free defensible space inspection, contact w88 casino games login local fire agency, which you can find here on the Living With w88 casino games login website.
- For more information on creating defensible w88 casino games login, see the Living With w88 casino games login Defensible Space Guide.
3) Reduce the threat of ember ignition to your w88 casino games login: A common way homes ignite is from embers, or pieces of burning material that can travel a mile or more ahead of a fire. Research suggests embers cause up to 90% of w88 casino games login ignitions during wildfires. To reduce the threat of ember ignition to your w88 casino games login:
- Ensure that vents are screened with 1/8-inch noncombustible corrosion-resistant metal mesh screening.
- Remove all dried leaves, pine needles and other materials w88 casino games login rain gutters.
- If you have a roof composed of wood shakes or shingles, consider replacing it, as these roofs are similar to stacking hundreds of pounds of dried kindling on top of your w88 casino games login. Instead, use a Class A-rated roof composed of asphalt fiberglass composition shingles, clay and cementitious tiles (flat and barrel shaped), or some metal roofing materials.
- See the publications Be Ember Aware and w88 casino games login Home Retrofit Guide for more information on reducing the threat of ignition to your w88 casino games login.
4) Be prepared in advance for w88 casino games login: Preparing ahead for evacuation can help you and your household remain calm and safely evacuate, leave your home in a condition that is most conducive to surviving a w88 casino games login, and have the items you need for evacuation and possibly being away from your home for several hours or days. To be prepared for evacuation:
- Prepare a “go-bag”: Pack an w88 casino games login go-bag ahead of time to aid in a quick and safe w88 casino games login, should one become necessary.
- Review and have on hand the w88 casino games login Evacuation Checklist, which details actions to take should evacuation become necessary and includes a list of what to have in w88 casino games login go-bag.
- Always evacuate when asked to do so by firefighters and officials, and put w88 casino games login safety and the safety of others first.
5) Prepare for w88 casino games login smoke: If smoke is in the air, monitor air quality by checking the AirNow w88 casino games login and Smoke Map. To protect yourself w88 casino games login unhealthy conditions:
- Stay safe indoors:
- Keep w88 casino games login windows closed and turn on the air conditioner.
- Create a “clean room,” a room with few windows and doors and no fireplace that is a large enough room for w88 casino games login family and a portable air cleaner or air purifier.
- Avoid creating additional smoke or particulate matter in the w88 casino games login.
- Protect yourself w88 casino games login smoke if you must be outdoors:
- Use a P100 or N95 respirator while outdoors.
- Reduce strenuous activities and take breaks.
- Stay hydrated. Adequate hydration keeps w88 casino games login airway lubricated, which keeps you safer from health impacts related to smoke.
- Consult with w88 casino games login doctor for medical advice, especially if you have heart or lung disease, or asthma.
- For more on how to prepare for w88 casino games login smoke and protect your health, see the publication Living With Smoke: How to Be Prepared for Smoke Exposure.
For more information, email Restaino.
