Talking safety: Be prepared for wildfires

As the Emergency Management Coordinator for Crook County, my job partly involves educating the public on matters of public safety interest. I hope to present helpful information to you here on a regular basis so that you may become more informed on the matters of importance.

To start off, I would like to talk about something that everyone thinks about in Crook County this time of year, and that is wildfires.

Unfortunately, over the last couple of years, wildfires have become something we need to be aware of every month. The days of only worrying about them during the summer are probably gone. We in Crook County have had wildfires every month of the year.

Why is it important to talk about them? A large percentage of our county is rural. As such, we are seeing more and more people move into areas that are prone to wildfire risk.

Some have experienced it first-hand, so it's important we talk about it.

What needs to be said is that everyone should be prepared for a wildfire. Wildfires will ruin homes, cause injuries or death to people and to animals.

What is a wildfire? An unplanned fire that burns in a natural area such as a forest grassland or prairie, and can even start in residential areas.

Most wildfires are either human caused or caused by lightning. In Wyoming, statistics tell us that about 70% of wildfires are started by people. The remaining 30% are usually started by lightning.

With this being said, humans are the biggest cause of this problem. We can all reduce the risks by being aware of what causes them.

The leading cause of wildfires on most lands is backyard debris burning. Burning allows owners to clean up branches and brush and dispose of them without going to the landfill.

These fires can spread when left unattended or when done under windy conditions. One has to remember that just because its snowing or raining doesn't mean the fire can't get out of control.

Another cause is campfires, or similar recreational fires. These can escape when they are unattended or even when attended. The simple act of "drown, stir, drown" with water and shovel can keep these from becoming an issue.

Equipment use can also be a cause. Motor vehicles, lawn mowers, power saws are just a few examples of equipment that can start a fire. A vehicle left sitting in dry grass, or a lawn mower blade hitting a rock, or a power saw throwing sparks can all create fires.

With all of these things to be aware of, there are some ways we can all mitigate or help prevent wildfires from even happening.

Be aware of local fire restrictions. Yes, they can be an inconvenience. But the officials that put these in place don't do it for the inconvenience, they do it from years of experience in knowing how fires can get started, and are using them to hopefully reduce the chances of something human-caused starting one.

(Remember that 70% of fires are human caused.)

Also, pay attention to information that can educate you on how to be more aware. Wyoming State Forestry, the National Forest Service, Crook County Fire, Emergency Management and most fire departments have literature and information that can assist you if you simply ask for it.

You may ask what you can do to help? Here are some suggestions.

Avoid burning debris, especially in the afternoon when temperatures are high and humidity low. If you do burn your debris, contact the Sheriff's Office dispatch and advise them of the burn. That way, if someone reports your smoke, the fire department doesn't waste time and resources responding to your fire.

Avoid using any power equipment near dry vegetation.

Never, ever leave a campfire unattended. Extinguish it completely before calling it a night or leaving the campsite.

Keep vehicles on established roads and trails.

Teach your children about fire safety.

From target shooting to smoking, always have the proper tools on hand, such as a fire extinguisher, shovel, garden hose or a bucket of water, to extinguish any ignitions or escaped embers.

Always pay attention to burn restrictions and Red Flag Warnings. Take them seriously.

Lastly, Crook County entities often offer seminars and training on fire mitigation, and other matters of interest. Take advantage of them, and become familiar with those subjects that could hopefully make a difference.