The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) has launched WildfireStrong – No Fuel. No Fire., a national campaign focused on reducing wildfire losses through consumer education and proactive fuel management.
The No Fuel. No Fire. campaign is rooted in a foundational fire science principle: the fire triangle.
Fire requires oxygen, heat and fuel to burn and fuel is the only element that homeowners and communities can control.
Although peak wildfire activity typically occurs during the summer months, wildfire risk reduction should begin and continue much earlier.
Spring is the most effective time to remove wildfire fuel, after winter freezes and before hot, dry conditions arrive.
Just as households undertake seasonal spring cleaning, clearing debris and dead vegetation around homes can significantly reduce or even prevent wildfires.
Leslie Chapman- Henderson, FLASH President and CEO commented: “Wildfire mitigation is spring cleaning your yard with a purpose.
“By removing dead vegetation, clearing debris and creating an ignition-free zone around homes in spring, people can reduce wildfire risk before the summer fire season begins.”
Winter weather patterns often set the stage for wildfire season by increasing the amount of available fuel.
Reduced snowpack, early snowmelt and vegetation stress can leave grasses, shrubs and forest debris dry and highly ignitable as temperatures rise.
The WildfireStrong – No Fuel. No Fire. campaign encourages homeowners to take simple, effective actions, including:
Sponsored by State Farm, the campaign also highlights the threat of wind-driven embers, the leading cause of home ignition, which can travel up to three miles from an active wildfire.
Rasheed Merritt, State Farm HR&D Exec-Corporate Responsibility shared: “At State Farm, part of our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life.
“One way we do this is through our commitment to help build safer, stronger, better educated communities.
“We are proud to support the No Fuel. No Fire. campaign and its resources aimed at mitigating wildfire risks to homes.”
The campaign aligns with leading wildfire resilience initiatives, including the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Wildfire Prepared Home program and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firewise USA Program, as well as model building codes provided by the International Code Council.
