Facing the Flames: How to Prepare for Wildfire Season

Wildfire Season is here. There’s no getting around the fact that (almost) no matter what we do to prepare for wildfire season, there continues to be potentially volatile and dangerous factors we have to expect and cope with each year. Wildfire season in the U.S. is usually April 1 – October 1. In addition, the season often extends into November or December in Southern California depending on the first rainfall. Arizona and Nevada also experience the devastation of wildfires due to their dry climates and lack of rainfall.

Some sources are predicting a slow start to the wildfire season in California with below-average activity. But while the California wildfire season may be off to a slow start, the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in Texas and western Oklahoma has become the largest wildfire in Texas history, burning more than a million acres.

GrantWatch wants to be part of an effort to improve the overall understanding our readers have about wildfires, both in terms of the potential dangers as well as ways to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season. GrantWatch has also provided a list of grant opportunities to aid in improving the quality of life amongst communities throughout the U.S. In addition, GrantWatch offers a list of close to 500 grants in its Disaster Relief grants listing category. Beyond that, GrantWatch also has national and international grant listings to choose from.

Wildfire Season Outlook

• Wildfires are unplanned fires. These extreme events are common in the Western U.S., usually occurring in summer and fall. Wildfire season is defined by the dates of the first large fire and the last large fire control.
• Since the 1970s, the wildfire season in western states has extended from 5 months to over 7 months in length. Since the 1980s, the annual number of large fires and area burned has significantly increased.
• In addition, the average burn time of individual fires has grown from 6 days between 1973 and 1982, to 52 days between 2003 and 2012.
• Increases…driven by rising temperatures, reduced winter snowpack, earlier snowmelt, reduced summer precipitation and increased evaporation.
• Under climate change we can expect the wildfire activity to increase as temperatures continue to warm, lengthening the fire season further. (climatehubs.usda.gov, “Wildfire“)

How to Prepare for Wildfire Season

• Recognize Warnings and Alerts. Have several ways to receive alerts. Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service. Sign up for Community Alerts in your area and be aware of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) – no sign-up required.
• Pay attention to Air Quality Alerts.
• Make an Emergency Plan. Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands what to do if you need to quickly evacuate.
• Review important documents. Make sure your insurance policies, like ID, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure, password-protected digital space.
• Strengthen your Home. Use fire-resistant materials to build, renovate or make repairs. Find an outdoor water source with a hose that can reach any area of your property. Designate a room that can be closed off from outside air.
• Know your Evacuation Zone. You may have to evacuate quickly due to a wildfire. Learn your evacuation routes. Follow the instructions from local authorities.
• Have enough supplies for your household, including a first aid kit, in your go bag or car trunk. Store N95 masks to be protected from smoke inhalation. Keep your cell phone charged. Purchase backup charging devices. (Ready.gov, “Prepare for Wildfires)

How to Be Safe – Before, During, and After a Wildfire

• Pay attention to emergency alerts and notifications.
• Evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to!
• Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for a list of open Red Cross shelters in your area.
• If trapped, call 9-1-1 and give your location, but be aware that emergency response could be delayed. Turn on lights to help rescuers find you. Use N95 masks to protect you from smoke inhalation.
• If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible.
• Do not return home until authorities say it is safe.
• The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or spark another fire.
• When cleaning, wear protective clothing – including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, work gloves and sturdy thick-soled shoes.
• Use a respirator to limit your exposure…People with asthma, COPD and/or other lung conditions should take precautions in areas with poor air quality.
• Document property damage with photographs. Conduct an inventory and contact your insurance company. Send text messages or use social media to reach out to family and friends. Phone systems are often busy. Make calls only in emergencies. (Ready.gov, “Wildfires – During and After“)

Below is a current list of disaster relief grant funding opportunities.

Grants for Disaster Relief

1. Grants to cities, counties, and fire protection agencies for programs to prevent wildfires. Funding will be for staff, equipment, and projects to prevent damage to communities, property, and people in the event of a wildfire. Applicants will choose between defensible space projects and community protection projects.
2. There are grants to eligible municipalities to improve local-government-records management/emergency recovery. Funding is for a range of project categories, including inventory and planning, organization and indexing, program development, storage and facilities, records recovery, and preservation and conservation. Funding will be for Disaster Recovery Grants and Targeted Grants.
3. In addition, grants of up to $10,000 to nonprofits to benefit diverse communities. Proposals will be for multiple focus areas, including ‘Safe Communities,’ and health and wellness. Funding is for organizations that serve people of color as their primary constituency. One result of the ‘Safe Communities’ focus would be to address emergency needs that would keep the organization from providing current services in the face of natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances. Special funding would be required to continue providing current services with minimal (if any) interruption.
4. Grants to eligible nonprofits to benefit local residents. Funding is for projects and activities focusing on nutrition and food, veterans, disabled individuals and young people. The program supports 501(c)(3) nonprofits that align with one of the funder’s focus areas. This includes its ‘Heroes’ focus, which supports disaster relief.
5. There are grants to nonprofits to maintain/repair internet connectivity during and following natural disasters. Registration is required in the grant portal prior to applying. Funding is to benefit communities prone to natural or climate-related disasters. The goal of the program is to enhance preparedness and build internet resiliency when facing adverse events, including natural disasters.

Additional Disaster Relief Grants and In-kind Donations

1. Also, grants to eligible nonprofits for programs and initiatives to develop local communities. Focus areas include disaster relief, education, strengthening small businesses, and economic mobility.
2. Grants to eligible nonprofits, veterans and faith-based organizations, schools, hospitals, government agencies, and volunteer fire departments for activities that create/sustain thriving communities. Funding is for programs and projects with multiple focus areas, including the environment, and education. The funder is committed to working with nonprofits and community partners to protect, conserve, and restore the natural beauty and biodiversity of regional areas. The Foundation will invest in programs to include reforestation, community disaster resilience and mitigation, and coastal and wetlands restoration.
3. There are in-kind donations of volunteer services to eligible nonprofits, government entities, tribal governments, community and faith-based organizations, and schools for community service projects. A project concept form will be submitted prior to applying. The purpose of the program is to strengthen communities and develop leaders by implementing team-based community service projects in the areas of disaster recovery, education, environment, healthy futures, economic opportunity, and veterans and military families.
4. In addition, grants of up to $25,000 to fire departments to enhance operations. Funding will be for training, technology, and equipment. Eligible applicants will include both paid and volunteer departments. The goal of the program is to save the lives of firefighters and to benefit the communities they serve.
5. Lastly, grants to eligible nonprofits for projects and programs disaster preparedness/relief to serve communities. Funding is for activities in the areas of education, disaster preparedness and relief, and recycling.

The Bottom Line

To conclude, we hope you will now be better informed about wildfire dangers and what’s needed for wildfire preparedness and safety!

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