APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. — Each year, nine out of 10 wildland fires are started by humans, according to Arizona's Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
Valley firefighters are getting a head start on preventing these fires and sharpening their skills to fight them.
Crews spent Monday preparing for the state’s wildfire season at the Superstition Fire and Medical Regional Training Center in Apache Junction.
They're teaming up with the Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Crews take courses in and outside the classroom to brush up on wildfire training.
DFFM provides fire protection to 22 million acres of state and private lands in Arizona.
The agency said you can help protect your home and property from wildfires by creating a wide defensible space free from dry brush and grass or trees.
DFFM Battalion Chief Jeff Gallivan, the head of the Arizona Wildland Response Team, said this kind of training is crucial for what may be a repeat of last year’s wildfire season.
“We're still teaching the same stuff we had in the past, you know, survival stuff. Shelter deployments is a big one, communications is a big one for us,” Gallivan said. “So I don't think we're really changing our training, but just changing our thought process into what to expect coming into our fire season.”
For more information about preventing wildfires and protecting your home, click here.
The DFFM offers these tips to prevent fires.
- When working outdoors, always check the weather beforehand. Keep a water source and shovel nearby and never leave a burn unattended. If using any type of equipment that may throw sparks be sure it's equipped with a spark arrester.
- When recreating - be a responsible camper.
- Know before you go - check land status and fire restriction information. If allowed - and having a campfire, put it out completely and make sure it's cool to the touch before walking away. Drown, stir, and repeat.
- When towing a vehicle - take an extra minute to make sure tow chains are secure before hitting the road. Check your tires, as blowouts have been known to cause wildfires. And never, pull off into tall grasses. The undercarriage of your car can get very hot and start a wildfire if parked in dry vegetation.
- Finally, protect your property. Create defensible space. Cut back trees, reduce dead fuels, keep your lawn cut and watered, and remove all flammable materials away from your home.
Wildfire Go-Kit:
Residents in wildfire-prone areas are urged to have an emergency supplies kit to bring with them of they are evacuated from their homes, especially as Arizona residents are beginning to see early widespread fire activity throughout the state.
An emergency supply kit should be put together long before a wildfire or another disaster occurs. Make sure to keep it easily accessible so you can take it with you when you have to evacuate.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that residents near a disaster store emergency supplies in a plastic tub, small suitcase, trash can, backpack, or other containers.
Residents should make sure they have the necessities, such as three gallons of water per person and a three-day supply of ready-to-eat food, the NFPA said. A first-aid kit, prescription medications, contact lenses, and non-prescription drugs should also be taken into account.
Copies of any important family documents, including insurance policies, identification, bank account records, and emergency contact numbers should also be taken and put into a waterproof, portable container in your kit, the NFPA said.
The association lists other items that would help in a disaster, including:
Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio and a NOAA weather radio to receive up-to-date information
Dust mask or cotton T-shirt to filter the air
Matches in a waterproof container
Complete change of clothing including long pants, long sleeve shirts, and sturdy shoes stored in a waterproof container
Signal flare
The entire NFPA checklist of supplies can be found here.
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