Firewise Communities Offers Wildfire Prevention and Safety Tips         

In light of the recent wildfires in Ka‘u, Firewise Communities Hawai‘i, a local chapter of a national program working towards wildfire prevention, is offering some useful tips to Big Island residents for wildfire safety and prevention.

Denise Laitinen, Firewise Communities coordinator for Hawai‘i, says creating a safety perimeter around your home of roughly 30-feet is a good precaution against wilfires.

“It’s about being lean, clean, and green,” says Laitinen.  “Even if you only have five or ten feet of yard, you can still be Firewise.”

Create a safety-buffer around your home by following these tips:

• Prune shrubs and trees so hanging branches are no lower than six to 10 feet off the ground to prevent flames from travelling to tree tops.
• Clean up dead leaves and plants from yard.
• Grow plants with high-moisture content or native species.
• Ensure plants closest to the house are low to the ground.

In the event of a fire approaching your home, Firewise recommends the following actions:

• Call 911!
• Close entrances, windows, and other openings, as well as shutters, heavy drapes, and blinds to prevent sparks from blowing into the home and igniting.
• Turn off residential fuel sources including gas and butane.
• Protect yourself: wear cotton clothing including long pants, long sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to protect your face.
• Keep tools and water handy: ladder, shovel, rake and long water house if possible.  Fill buckets or other bulk containers with water.
• Wet the roof: if your roof can potentially burn, spray it down with a hose.
• Prepare vehicles: back as many vehicles as possible into the garage and close the door.  If evacuation is necessary, close the garage door when leaving.  If you don’t have a garage, park vehicles in a manner that enables a quick getaway.
• Evacuate the family.  Take family and pets to a safe location, if it becomes necessary.

For more information on fire safety from Firewise Communities Hawaii, contact (808) 281-3497, or e-mail firewisehawaii@yahoo.com.