More than 170 homes in Eagle Rock, Ariz. had to evacuate this weekend as thousands more are advised to do the same. A wildfire, which started last week, was thought to be about 40% contained until a second one started during the weekend. The AP reports this second fire currently “rages out of control.” It is believed that lightening started the second blaze. A man who started small campfire and did not extinguish it properly unintentionally caused the first fire.
Affected Areas
Currently, those living in the Timberline Estates, Wupatki Trails and Fernwood are being advised to leave their homes and head to a Red Cross shelter at Flagstaff Middle School. Experts from the Kaibab National Forest state the fire should be contained by Tuesday, June 22, 2010. County Road 141 is now re-open, but the area around the fire is still closed. While the Kaibab National Forest remains open for camping, the lake is closed to boating and fishing as it is being used for fire operations, according to the Fire Department News Network.
Fire Information
If you live in the Eagle Rock area and wish to learn more about the fires, call the Fire Information Center from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm at 928-635-5687 or 928-635-5688. More on this story.
The beginning of summer for residents in areas frequented by natural disasters means it is time to start preparing for what may come. Summertime marks the beginning of wildfires and hurricane season. The National Disaster Education Coalition states every person, no matter where they live, should learn what disasters could impact their area(natural and man-made), make an emergency disaster plan, create a list of emergency contacts, make sure they are properly insured and have a pre-made disaster kit.
Summertime Natural Disasters
The most notable natural disasters during the summer months are wildfires and hurricanes. Although experts predict a typical wildfire season this summer, the “Jackson County Floridian” states NOAA weather and emergency management experts expect an active hurricane season with at least five Category 3 storms. The warning prompted Governor Charlie Crist of Florida to write a note to the state’s citizens reminding them to prepare for hurricanes in advance and make sure they have adequate flood insurance coverage now.
Be Prepared for a Hurricane
Being prepared is not expensive and can actually save you money in the end because emergency supplies such as food and water can cost more before, during and after a disaster because they will be in high demand.
The National Hurricane Center encourages you to know and do the following in the event of any type of emergency:
The safest rooms in your home
Know the escape routes out of your home, city, county and state
Appoint a person to be single point of contact that everyone can call in the event of an emergency. This person should not live in the same state as you.
Know what you are going to do with your pets in the event of a disaster
Post emergency numbers near home phones and teach your children how to call 911
Memorial Day weekend signals the official start of summer, one of the most popular times to fire-up the grill to make backyard cuisines. However, the beginning of summer also signals the beginning of wildfire season. Help keep your home and neighborhood safe by keeping the following tips from the HPBA (Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association) and the Propane Education & Research Council in mind.
Prepare Your Home and Grill
Cut back your grass and move burnable materials. Keep grass, wood, bush, plants and other materials at least 10 feet away from propane tanks and cylinders. This includes tanks installed in your grill and tanks you are storing.
Do not store propane tanks and cylinders inside a home, shed, garage or any other building.
Read the manual for your propane tank and grill.
Only use grills outside and in a well-ventilated area. If you grill indoors, there is a chance carbon monoxide could accumulate and prove fatal to those in the building.
Make sure the grill is stable. When grills are unstable or placed on uneven surfaces they may fall or tip over unexpectedly, which can cause a fire.
Replace expired or damaged tanks. This includes tanks that have holes, rust spots or cracks.
Use a grill mat. Use a heat-resistance grill mat under a gas or charcoal grill to prevent fires caused by hot embers or drippings.
Keep an extinguisher nearby. When grilling, keep a fire extinguisher nearby. If you do not have an extinguisher, keep baking soda, a bucket of garden sand or a garden hose close.
Outdoor fire prevention is quick, easy and worth the effort so you do not have to deal with the consequences of a full-blown, damaging blaze.
With the warmer weather are the increased chances of a wildfire. By following a few suggestions, you can improve the chances that your family and home will survive a wildfire with minimal damages.
Create a Defense Shield: Fire-Resistant Landscaping
When landscaping your property keep in mind how fire-resistant it is. Establish “zones” for every 0–30 feet, 30–100/300 feet, and 100/300+ feet. The 0 – 30-foot-zone should be sparsely planted with lawns, small shrubs and low-fire-potential trees.
When planning the second zone, or the “transition zone’, determine its length by taking into consideration any slopes on the property. If your house is on a slope, the second zone should extend up to 300 feet. Homes on level property can extend their zone to 100 feet. The transition zone should be thinned of natural vegetation. By planting fire-resistant species of flora, you can also create an effective secondary fire buffer zone.
Finally, the third zone is generally comprised of the natural landscape.
There are many federal, state, and private websites that provide excellent information on how to accomplish fire-resistant landscaping, and provide excellent lists of vegetation that is resistant to fire.
Know How to Escape
Begin making a wildfire preparedness plan by creating a family evacuation plan. Having an evacuation plan that the entire family knows will help get everyone out of the home quickly and safely. Make sure everyone know the main route to get out of a home from their bed room, along with an alternate route. Also plan exits the family should use if they are in a different area of a home when a fire breaks out. By having multiple evacuation paths planned, your family will be less likely to panic when trying to escape. In your wildfire preparedness plan, include a plan for recovery.
Also plan driving routes with your family and keep detailed maps in every car. Talk to your local firefighters in advance to see what they suggest would be good driving routes, and what streets are more likely to be closed. In this plan, designate a meeting point for your family to go to should they be separated when there is an emergency.
Clear away debris. Debris is good fuel for a fire. By clearing things like leaves and long grasses from around your home or business, you will make it harder for a fire to flourish.
Prune trees and shrubs. Keeping trees and shrubs pruned improves their vitality and leaves less for a fire to burn. Therefore, this routine maintenance will increase their ability to heal from fire damage.
Keep landscape well-watered. When yards or plants are kept lush and green, the moisture contained within them will make it harder for them to be consumed. A green lawn will also help slow down a fire’s progression through a property.
Maintain your roof. Rid your roof of moss and pine needles, which are other forms of debris that fuel a fire. Also make sure your gutters do not have any leaves in them, especially if they are dry.
Make an emergency plan. Knowing what to do if a fire does happen on your property is just as important, if not more important, that preparing for the fire. Make a preparedness plan at home with your family and one at your business with employees. This plan should outline an evacuation plan that includes where exits in a building are located. Keep a first aid kit, flashlights and a list of important phone numbers. More on making and emergency preparedness kit.
Keep your insurance up to date. By reviewing and updating your insurance policies, you’ll know exactly what is covered in the event of a fire. Be sure to notify your insurance agent of any property changes so you are not under-insured should there be a fire. Read more about insurance.
Back up computer files: A computer left behind in a fire is easily destroyed along with all the data it contains. By backing-up the information online, you will save time and money when recovering the data. Learn about document recovery.
