FLORENCE, AZ -- The monsoon season brings spectacular lightning storms that are a landscape photographer's dream, but now it's time to become
Firewise.
High temperatures have dried the tumbleweeds and desert brush and what was formerly green and beautiful becomes fuel for fierce wildfires.
By becoming Firewise, you can protect your home and your community.
Firewise people create "defensible space" around their homes meaning that you have a 30 foot perimeter of space around your home that is lean, clean and green.
Lean means you prune back shrubs and tree branches within 15 feet of any structures.
Clean means you clean out dead plant material from around your home.
Green means you have planted fire-resistant vegetation and are keeping it healthy and green.
Before you are confronted with an emergency, it's a good idea to have the following emergency plans in place:
- Post your local fire and police station numbers by your home phone and program them into your cell phone.
- Decide where you will go in case of a fire and plan how you will get there.
- Plan for your pets and their safety also.
- In case of fire, have tools available such as a shovel, rake, axe, handsaw, chainsaw and a 2 gallon bucket.
- Flashlights and extra batteries.
- First aid kit.
- Dust mask to help filter air.
- Wrenches or pliers to turn off utilities.
- Battery or hand crank radio, extra batteries.
- Three day supply of non-perishable food.
- Local maps.
