GRANTS, NM - According to George Ducker, Wildfire Prevention and Communications Coordinator of the New Mexico State Forestry Division, wildfire prevention should be at the top of the mind for everyone. Ducker stated that a lot of people don't necessarily want to take a few hours to a whole day of their time to do what could be necessary to prevent the spread of wildfire onto their property. He stressed that spring is the time to do it. All it takes is a spark to cause a fire that can spread quickly on a windy day. The advice comes as the US Bureau of Land Management begins a controlled burn in the Zuni Mountains.
In an effort to educate people on what they can do, Ducker moved on to advice for home management related to fire awareness. He explained that this can be looked at in levels. The first being the ground level. He advised that you should look around and clear out anything close to your home that will be easily flammable, such as dry shrubs, grasses, and low hanging branches on trees. The recommended clear space to have around your home is 30 feet. This is called “defensible space” and will allow for fire crews to set up and work safely around your home if they ever need to.
The next level is the roof, gutters, and decks. Ducker stated that embers can sometimes travel up to a mile on the wind. A fire can easily start if an ember lands on a home that hasn't been maintained or made with fire resistant materials. The next level is to keep in communication with the people around you about fire safety if possible. He explained that one person's property is only as safe as the ones around them.
Ducker then moved on to having an evacuation plan and wildfire preparedness kit set up in advance. This will prevent scrambling at the last second to find what you need to take should an evacuation become necessary. He explained that this should include any essentials such as medicine, pet food, and chargers for devices. Knowing where all of your important documents are so you can take them quickly was also recommended. The idea is to be able to have essential items ready to go so that within ten minutes you can focus on grabbing any irreplaceable items before you leave.
Some other scenarios where people can help to prevent wildfires were discussed. Ducker advised that if anyone uses tow chains, not keep them loose enough to drag upon the ground. This can create sparks as someone is driving and increases the risk of roadside fires. Another is to completely douse your campfires if you have them when camping. Always bring enough water to completely put out the embers. Limiting smoking as well when in the forest and parking away from any dry brush and grasses if possible, also helps to reduce the risk of accidentally starting fires.
For anyone interested in learning more about fire preparedness and strategies, you can visit the New Mexico Forestry Division's website at www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/f ire-prevention-programs o r www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/f ire-prevention-tips If fires do begin to kick off and spread, you can also go to nmfireinfo. com to track any information available about them.