Prepare your Community For Wildfire

By residing in the Wildland Urban Interface (the zone where natural environments intersect human development), we take on the extra responsibility of living with wildfire.  However, living with wildfire at Lake Tahoe isn’t just an individual journey—it’s a team effort between ourselves, our neighbors, and federal, state, and local agencies. It is a partnership, and we all play a role. May is National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day! Take time this month to prioritize wildfire preparedness and make a plan to lead, educate, organize, and engage your neighborhood this summer. Below are some ideas: 2019 defensible space community workday in the Golden Bear neighborhood, South Lake Tahoe. Become a Tahoe Network Neighborhood Leader Tahoe Network neighborhood leaders receive training and access to educational resources and event assistance. With support from the Tahoe Network and your local fire district, you can inspire and empower your community to get prepared. If you’re interested in becoming a neighborhood leader, contact the Tahoe Network Fire Adapted Communities at [email protected] or 530-543-1501 ext.114. Educate Your Neighborhood Introduce yourself to your neighbors and/or widely advertise the threat of wildfire during neighborhood walks. Distribute our free resources about defensible space, home hardening, and evacuation planning. Disperse information about free defensible space inspections and chipping services. Organize Your Neighborhood Compile neighborhood email addresses and contact information. Send out wildfire preparedness information, emergency updates, or newsletters. Create a neighborhood communication thread, group, or forum on Facebook or Nextdoor focused on wildfire preparedness. Discuss your neighbors’ evacuation plan. Identify if any neighbors will need extra assistance. Engage Your Neighborhood Plan a wildfire preparedness block party and invite your local fire district. Plan a defensible space community workday. Organize a tour of homes with exceptional defensible space and home hardening. Apply for Firewise USA Recognition Firewise USA is a national program that recognizes communities who are actively preparing for wildfire. You can join the eight other Firewise USA communities at Lake Tahoe and apply for your neighborhood to be recognized. Form a committee that’s comprised of residents and other applicable wildfire stakeholders. Obtain a written wildfire community risk assessment form your local fire district. Develop an action plan with a prioritized list of risk reduction projects/investments for our neighborhood. Host a defensible space community work day and an outreach event to educate neighbors on fire preparedness. Learn More About Preparing For Wildfire