Video courtesy the Associated Press.
High winds and hot, dry weather have fueled the flames of a fast-movingwildfirenear Guthrie, Oklahoma, just north of Oklahoma City, which has threatened homes and property in communities across the central part of the state. According to news reports, the Guthrie fire has burned more than 3,000 acres and destroyed at least 20 homes, and is one of several grass fires to break out in recent days. Many more homes and properties remain under threat.
According to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, the past six months in central Oklahoma have been the second driest on record. Nearly 80 percent of the state is currently experiencing drought conditions, which increases the risk for more grass fires to spark in the continued hot, dry weather.
Many local residents, however, have already taken steps to reduce their wildfire risk. Using proven principles for wildfire safety, 42 communities in Oklahoma participate in the nationalFirewiseCommunities/USA Recognition Program, which encourages residents to do their part to keep their homes and property safer from wildfire.
A list of all Oklahoma Firewise-recognized sites can be found on theFirewise网站athttp://firewise.org/.
野火不必在其路径上燃烧一切。实际上，有效治疗家庭点火区可以大大增加房屋生存的机会。清洁碎屑的财产并维护景观是重要的第一步。以下是居民可以采取的措施来降低风险：
- 沟渠，屋檐，门廊和甲板上的透明叶子和其他碎屑，也不要使用这些区域存储易燃物品。这有助于防止余烬点燃这些材料。
- 保持草坪水合并维护。干草和灌木是野火的燃料。
- Remove flammable materials within five feet of the home’s foundation and outbuildings, including garages and sheds. If it can catch fire, don’t let it touch the house, deck or wood fencing.
- Reduce vegetation surrounding the home’s perimeter from a 5 foot to 30 foot area and manage vegetation there to 200 feet or the property line, depending on the area’s wildfire risk. NFPA’s “basics of defensible space and the home ignition zone” page on the Firewise site provides these and other steps for homeowners to help them prepare homes/home landscapes to resist wildfire.
A comprehensive Firewise tips checklist and safety guidelines sheet for homeowners are also available.
Learn more about how to keep families safe and reduce homeowners’ risk for wildfire damage on NFPA’s wildfire division web page. Additionally, complimentary brochures, booklets, pamphlets, videos and much more can be found on the wildfire preparedness page and ordered online through NFPA’s online wildfire safety catalog.
