Pierce County 'Firewise' Community Preparedness Event Announced

GIG HARBOR, WA — Firefighters from across Pierce County want to make sure everyone is prepared for fire season well in advance this year.

If you'd like to make sure your home or neighborhood are prepare for the coming fire season, the Pierce Conservation Dist, EPFR, Orting Valley Fire, Greenwater Fire, and Washington State Department of Natural Resources have teamed up to announce an upcoming wildfire preparedness training session. The 'firewise' training webinar is set for May 25th, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Interested parties can sign up online to attend.

May is Wildfire Community Preparedness Month. Patch caught up with Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One a few wildfire seasons ago and got a few home safety preparedness tips. Experts say there are really three things homeowners will want to focus on: reducing fuels, home protection, and emergency vehicle access.

Reducing fuels means getting rid of any dry or rotting foliage. Trees on your property should be at least five feet apart from the tips of their branches, and should be limbed at least 10 feet up to stop fire from climbing up the trunk.

The key to home protection is setting up a defensible space around your house. That means keeping flammable foliage away from the house, but also making sure grass near the home is kept short, well-watered, green, and thus less flammable. Finally, if you're planning a new home or remodeling, consider fire resistant siding or roofs. Also consider install screens on windows or vents to prevent embers from flying inside.

Finally, if a wildfire does spread near your home, firefighters need to be able to get to it. That means having a well-marked driveway and address.

>> Find more fire safety tips from Pierce County.