Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Date in the current year: May 3, 2025

Wildfires are unplanned and uncontrolled fires that occur in areas of flammable vegetation. They can be beneficial for many natural forest ecosystems, contributing to their renewal and maintaining biodiversity, but they can be extremely dangerous for people living nearby. Each year, wildfires result in human deaths, property destruction, economic losses, and short- and long-term health problems caused by smoke and fire.

The concept for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day grew out of a survey of middle school students in Texas and Colorado who expressed a desire to learn more about wildfires so that they could take an active role in improving wildfire safety in their communities. When the program was first piloted in Colorado in 2013, it received enthusiastic support from both students and adults who participated in hands-on activities to reduce wildfire risk.

Today, Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is observed on the first Saturday in May in the United States and Canada. It is administered by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the United States and FireSmart in Canada.

The primary focus of Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is to educate people who live in high-risk areas about the best ways to protect themselves and their property from wildfire. There are simple things you can do in an afternoon or over a weekend to help your home survive a wildfire.

Most homes burn in wildfires because of embers and small flames that make their way into what is called the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ). The HIZ includes everything from the house itself out to about 100-200 feet, depending on the slope and vegetation. It is usually divided into three subzones:

• Immediate zone: the home itself to 5 feet from the furthest attached exterior point of the home.
• Intermediate zone: 5 to 30 feet furthest attached exterior point of the home.
• Extended zone: 30 to 100-200 feet.

When preparing your home for a wildfire, start with the house itself and the immediate zone, then work outward. Make sure your roof and gutters are clear of dead leaves and pine needles, and remove all combustible materials (leaves, needles, flammable vegetation, mulch, firewood) from exterior walls, decks, and porches. Repair or replace loose or missing roof shingles/tiles, loose or damaged window screens, etc. Protect vents from embers with metal mesh.

The intermediate zone should be reduced in vegetation and landscaped to interrupt the path of fire. Spacing trees and shrubs and keeping grass trimmed will help slow the spread of fire. Finally, fire protection in the extended zone focuses on managing vegetation and removing litter, debris, and dead plant and tree material to reduce fuel for fires.

You can participate in Wildfire Community Preparedness Day by taking some time to prepare your home for wildfire, encouraging your family, friends and neighbors to do the same, and spreading the word on social media.