The first Saturday of May marks Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. A national campaign to encourage individuals to take action making their homes and community spaces wildfire-safe.
During the coming months, Helena and the neighboring communities may be faced with the challenge of managing wildfires during a pandemic. Representatives from the Tri-County FireSafe Working Group (TCFSWG) and the city of Helena Fire Department are concerned that the upcoming wildfire season, coupled with the COVID-19 crisis, may test the capacity of local disaster management services, and firefighting forces.
“Wildfire is a big issue in the state of Montana and across the country. It’s a real risk to life and property and we need everybody’s help to join in and help prepare and mitigate fuels so that the fires don’t burn as hot. They don’t burn as large. They don’t spread as fast. It gives us more time to actually get the fires put out,” says Ken Wood, City of Helena Fire Chief.
According to the City of Helena Fire, mowing down and removing dead vegetation is one of many ways to help protect your home from fires. Also, replacing any bark mulch within five feet of your home with rock mulch.
“There’s a lot of people at home. This is a great time to take advantage of that time at home and get a lot of this work done around your home and get those things cleaned up,” says Chief Wood.
Tri-County FireSafe Working Group has many resources you can use to help protect your home or structure. Click here for their website.
