Wildfire Awareness Month Activities Encouraged

May is National Wildfire Awareness Month. To encourage community members to take precautions and take steps to protect their homes and businesses, City of Austin and Travis County officials held a joint press conference on Friday. In addition to tips on hardening your home from wildfire, officials spoke of the importance of self-awareness and safe practices that can prevent a wildfire from sparking as up to 95% of wildfires are a result of human activity. 

While conditions for a wildfire to spread are currently low due to recent heavy rains in the region, that means wildfire could be especially dangerous later this summer in the dryer, hotter months. Vegetation like native tallgrasses, trees, and bushes can grow more with beneficial rain. When the heat comes and dries out the vegetation, it becomes fuel for a potential wildfire.

City and County leaders encourage the community to prepare now for those days when wildfire can spark and spread quickly.

“Wildfires can spread very quickly in the hills of west Austin and the prairie-like fields on the east side. Please take precautions to keep a fire from sparking and have a plan for what you will do if a wildfire is in your area.” said Austin Emergency Management Director Jim Redick. “You can protect your home from wildfire by creating a defensible space around your home. Clear brush and debris within five feet of your home and trim tree branches at least 10 feet away from your structure.”

Ready, Set, Go! 
The Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division launched its Ready, Set, Go! program during the summer of 2023 along with Austin Emergency Management (AEM). The program provides guidance on how to harden your home against wildfire and evacuation planning resources. 

In addition to mitigation and preparedness tips through the program, Austin HSEM and AFD Wildfire partnered to create Ready, Set, Go! emergency messaging for those signed up to receive wildfire messages from Warn Central Texas. Subscribers will get a text, call, and email with timely information about conditions on the ground and advice about recommended actions. When wildfire is a threat, a “Ready” message prompts recipients to prepare an emergency supply kit and be ready to put personal wildfire plans into action. “Set” messages indicate a wildfire is in the area and it is time to be in a position to evacuate quickly should conditions require. A “Go!” message means it is time to leave the area immediately. This message also provides evacuation order instructions and directions for checking in with public safety personnel. This allows responders on the scene to be aware of any homes with people still inside or needing assistance.

The Ready, Set ,Go! program is designed to help people prepare their homes and communities for what to do during a wildfire not just beforehand. Learn more at ReadyCentralTexas.org. 

To register for wildfire emergency notifications, visit WarnCentralTexas.org today.

Hardening Your Home 
How susceptible your home or business is to wildfire can depend on materials used in its construction. Embers in a wildfire will find the weak spot in your protection plan or can easily embed in small, overlooked areas.

Areas of your home to consider the types of building materials used include:

• Balconies and Decks

• Roofs

• Eaves

• Vents

• Walls and Fencing

• Windows and Doors

Defensible Space 
Removing combustible materials and/or debris that helps prevent the spread of wildfire by creating a defensible space around your home. When creating defensible spaces, divide your property up into three different zones: 

• Immediate Zone: 0-5 feet around your home

• Intermediate Zone: 5-30 feet

• Extended Zone: 30-100 feet

Each zone has its own recommendations for protection and prevention. Learn more about each of these zones and hardening your home in the Ready, Set, Go! Wildfire Personal Action Guide. It is available in English and Spanish at AFD’s Wildfire Hub online or at ReadyCentralTexas.org.

Preventing a Spark 
Up to 95% of wildfires are started by people. Preventing a wildfire from sparking can save lives and property. Wildfires can spark from a number of sources. Discarded cigarettes, improper use of an outdoor grill, unattended campfires, dragging tow trailer chains on the ground, and even idling or parking vehicles on tall, dry grass.

Dry grass and vegetation can cause wildfire to spread very quickly. Embers can be carried away by high winds and start another fire more than a mile away to ignite another fire. Knowing and understanding the significant risk and dangers of wildfire can help people change their behavior or take note of their activities to prevent sparking a wildfire. 

Wildfire Awareness & You 
Austin Emergency Management hosts a number of outreach events where the community can get information and resources about wildfire. AEM hosts monthly Emergency Preparedness Pop-Ups on the third Wednesday of the month. Its next pop-up will be Wednesday, May 20, at the Southeast Branch Library from 3-6 p.m. The monthly event features multiple partners in emergency management and response educating the public about emergency preparedness and distributing emergency supplies. AFD’s Wildfire Division will have a table at the May pop-up event.