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| Home > Fact
of the Week 2011 > Wildfires |
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06-20-2011
Preparedness
Facts of the Week
by
Elizabeth Hall, Emergency
Services Specialist -
Kings County Office of Emergency Management |
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Depending
upon terrain and vegetation,
wildfire hazard
risk exposure is generally
pervasive, with high concentrations
in southern California. Since
1950, 56 percent of Presidential
declared disasters in California
were the result of wildfires.
- Over
the past 57 years, wildfires
have claimed 97 lives
and resulted in 1,504 injuries
and $2.1 billion in California
Emergency Management Agency
(CalEMA) administered disaster
costs.
- Approximately
37 million acres within California
are
at risk from wildfire, with
17 million acres at high risk.
A total of 7.8 million acres
of California are developed
with housing unit densities
considered to meet the Wildland-Urban
Interface (WUI) criteria and
a total of 11.8 million homes
are located in the WUI.
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Defensible
Space: You Can Do It... |
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The
following are general guidelines: |
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- Remove
all flammable vegetation
around
all structures. State
law requires a minimum
of 100 feet of clearance,
but check with your
insurance agent to
see if your carrier
requires more. For
more information
about state law,
contact your local
fire department.
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- Trim
trees so branches
are six feet from
the ground and 10
feet from your chimney.
Remove branches overhanging
your roof.
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- Call
your utility company
for help
with trees near power
lines. Never trim
these yourself.
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- Cut
weeds and dead grasses
six inches
or shorter.
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- Always
work early in the
morning and
make sure your power
tools have spark arresters
to prevent equipment-caused
fires.
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- Ask
your local nursery
about landscaping with
beautiful, fire-resistant
plants
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- Maintain
defensible space by cleaning
up plant litter and watering
properly.
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Wild
Fire Safety Checklist
(American
Red Cross)
More and more people are making their homes in woodland settings, rural areas
or remote mountain sites. There, residents enjoy the beauty of the environment
but face the very real danger of wild fires. Wild fires often begin unnoticed.
They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees and homes. In a wild fire, every second
counts!
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Water-one
gallon per person, per day
(3-day supply)
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Food-non-perishable,
easy-to-prepare items (3-day
supply)
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Flashlight
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Battery-powered
or hand-crank radio (NOAA
Weather Radio, if possible)
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Extra
batteries
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First
aid kit
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Medications
(7-day
supply) and
medical items
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Multi-purpose
tool
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Sanitation
and
personal hygiene
items
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Copies
of
personal documents
(medication list
and pertinent
medical information,
deed/lease to
home, birth
certificates, insurance
policies)
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Cell
phone
with chargers
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Family
and
emergency
contact
information
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Extra
cash
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Emergency
blanket
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Map(s)of
the
area
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Other
essential
items
that
could
not
be
replaced
if
they
were
destroyed
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Do
your part for safety awareness by passing this
information along to anyone you can think of
who would benefit.
Have
a great week, and remember…… Be
Responsible - Be Ready - Be Prepared!
Teaming Up for Emergency Preparedness
Elizabeth Hall
Office of Emergency Management
280 Campus Drive Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 582-3211, Ext. 2634
www.kingscountyoem.com
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