Prevention
Nationally, 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by human activity. These wildfires can devastate communities, risking lives, destroying property and infrastructure as well as critical resources like wildlife habitat, watersheds and recreational areas. Every wildfire, no matter the size puts our fire fighters at risk.
Fire Prevention educates the public to prevent future human caused wildfires. This is accomplished through regulation, mitigation, public meetings, school programs, personal contacts, and Smokey Bear events. Wildfire prevention occurs throughout urban interface communities, working beside cooperating city, county, state and federal fire agencies throughout the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
That is why land management agencies like the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest need the public’s help to prevent wildfires. Whether it’s ensuring a campfire is completely extinguished, or keeping vehicles well maintained to prevent sparks, following just a few simple steps can help prevent wildfires.
Here are steps you can take during your visit to help us protect the forest and prevent unwanted wildfires.
Reminder: Fireworks, exploding targets, incendiary or tracer ammunition is never allowed on National Forests at any time.
Campfire Safety to Prevent Wildfires
- Select a level open site that is free from fuels such as overhanging branches, brush and grass.
- Clear an area at least 5 feet around the fire, scrape away grass, needles and leaves down to mineral soil. Build a rock ring around the fire to help contain it.
- The fire should be built no larger than necessary for cooking or personal warmth, do not let burning logs extend from campfire providing pathway for escape.
- Keep a shovel and a bucket of water nearby at all times.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
- Don’t burn dangerous items, aerosol or pressurized cans may explode, plastics, glass and aluminum will release dangerous chemicals you don’t want to inhale.
- When possible, allow wood to burn down to ash.
- Use the Drown, Stir, Feel Method – Drown with water, Stir the ash and embers to ensure everything gets wet and cool to the touch. Feel the area with the back of your hand to ensure nothing is still hot.
- REMEMBER: If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave the fire!
Safe Vehicle Use to Prevent Wildfires
- Practice safe towing, dragging chains throw sparks, use appropriate safety pins, hitch ball and chain covers to secure chains reducing potential for wildfire ignitions.
- Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained with nothing dragging on the ground.
- Maintain proper tire pressure. Driving on exposed wheel rims will throw sparks.
- Brakes worn too thin may cause metal to metal contact, which can cause a spark.
- Check fluid levels, overheating can cause a vehicle fire which may spread to vegetation nearby causing a wildfire.
- Don’t drive or park your vehicle onto dry grass or brush, hot exhaust pipes and mufflers can start fires that you won’t even see until it’s too late!
- If you experience a vehicle emergency be aware of where you pull over, find a place out of the lane of traffic but free of burnable material to avoid starting a wildfire.
- Carry a fire extinguisher in an easily accessible location and know how to use it.
Wildfire Preparedness for Homeowners
Being ready starts with hardening your home to wildfire and maintaining adequate defensible space around your home and property. Home hardening means using ignition-resistant materials on and around your home to help it withstand flying embers and radiant heat. Defensible space is the buffer created by removing dead plants, grass and weeds to help keep wildfire away from your home. Watch how "Your Home Can Survive a Wildfire".
It takes a combination of home hardening and defensible space to give your house the best chance of surviving a wildfire. Learn more at Firewise USA and Utah Homeowner Education.