The Uintah County Sheriff’s Office would remind the Uintah Basin residents that while all this rain has created some wonderful green scenery it can lead to very dangerous wildfires when it dries out. To help prepare, they have shared some tips from the National Fire Protection Association on being ready for wildfires. The first step is to create a basic defensible space by clearing dead vegetation and other items within 10 feet of the house and under decks and porches. Also keep ignitable items like leaves and trash clear of gutters, eaves, porches, and decks so embers can not start them on fire. Another great rule is to be sure that all flammable materials like firewood stacks and propane tanks are at least 30 feet away from the home. If it can catch fire don’t let it touch the house. Put screens or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh so combustible items don’t gather. Be sure to cover exterior attic vents with metal wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch to prevent sparks from entering the home. Keep trees pruned so that the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground. A big part of being ready is to have an emergency plan in place. For more tips and what you need to do to have your emergency plan ready visit
www.nfpa.org/Public-Education
and click on wildfires.
