FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2025
Wildfire Awareness Month highlights
proactive safety strategies
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – In 2024, 5,187
wildfires burned over 1.3 million acres in Texas, and since wildfires have no
boundaries, Texans should always be prepared for wildfires.
During Wildfire Awareness Month,
Texas A&M Forest Service is highlighting the ways that Texans can not only
prevent wildfires but how they can prepare for when they occur.
"Preparation for wildfires is
key to protecting both lives and property," said Erin O'Connor, Texas
A&M Forest Service Public Information Officer. "During an emergency,
you may only have minutes to act or evacuate. Having a plan and a go-kit can
make all the difference. The better prepared Texans are, the safer they will
be."
Prepare a go-kit
A critical component to ensuring safety
and preparedness for wildfires is the preparation of a go-kit that can
be easily carried and include supplies for several days. A go-kit should
include:
- Supplies
for both people and pets.
- Prescription
medications or other necessary medical equipment.
- Papers and
important documents such as phone numbers and insurance and identification
documents.
- Personal
needs including food, water, clothes, money, chargers and a first aid kit.
- Priceless
items such as photos, family heirlooms and any other irreplaceable or valuable
items.
Evacuation plans
"It is important to have at least two
evacuation routes planned out of your neighborhood in case the first route is
blocked by heavy smoke or traffic," said O’Connor.
Evacuation routes and shelter
locations will be influenced by wildfire activity. It is critical to know how
and where local emergency officials will communicate information, such as
updates and instructions, to the public.
Preparing homes and land
"There are many practical
steps that residents and landowners can take to reduce their risk from
wildfire," said O’Connor.
Residents can prepare around their homes using fire
resistant landscaping and ensuring defensible spaces are maintained. Embers—small
pieces of burning material easily carried by the wind—are the leading cause of
home loss during wildfires. They can collect in small crevices around a home
and enter through vents.
Simple, low-cost actions like
cleaning out gutters, clearing leaves from garden beds and around wooden
structures, removing leaf piles, and relocating firewood stacks at least 30
feet away from buildings can significantly reduce the risk of ember ignition.
Farm and ranch owners can prepare for wildfires by assessing the
property for potential hazards, establishing contingency plans for feeding and
relocating livestock if a fire is imminent and informing fire departments about
access roads, water sources, fence lines and preferred wildfire suppression
tactics.
Preparing communities
"The wildland urban interface is where humans
and their structures meet or mix with undeveloped wildland,” said O’Connor. “Communities
in the WUI are at the greatest risk for wildfire damage or loss. As Texas’
population grows and urban areas expand into more rural landscapes, the number
of people that may be impacted by wildfires will increase."
Communities and municipalities can create community wildfire protection plans
to identify high-risk areas of the wildland urban interface and target
potential fuels reduction projects, training needs and prevention strategies.
Texas A&M Forest Service works
with communities to create community wildfire protection plans, assists
neighborhoods with the management of the Firewise USA® program and provides
risk assessment tools to ensure communities have the resources to be prepared
for wildfire.
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Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
Public Information Officer, information@tfs.tamu.edu, 979-255-0591
Communications Office, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu, 979-458-6606