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Label
Prevention
Stay Informed of Current Conditions	Control Flammables
Use Extreme Caution When Burning Outdoors	Use Heating Sources Wisely
Use Extreme Caution If You Smoke	Keep Electrical Wiring in Good Repair
Safely Operate Off-road Vehicles When Fire Potential is High	Use Care When Cooking
Use Extreme Caution in Using Fireworks	Obtain Fire Extinguishers
Safely Build, Maintain, and Extinguish Campfires	Use Appliances Safely
Examine the Smokey Bear Case Book for More Tips on Wildland Fire Prevention	Don't Let Vehicles Become Fire Hazards
Preparedness
Make Your Home More Fire Resistant	Install Smoke Alarms
Create Safety Zones Around Your Home	Have A Sound Fire Escape Plan
Have A Plan	When A Fire Occurs. . .
Evacuate If A Fire Is Approaching	After The Fire . . .
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Information on this page is courtesy of the following:     National Interagency Fire Center;   SmokeyBear.com;   U.S. Fire Administration;   Federal Emergency Management Agency;   National Safety Council   (Permission to reprint granted by the National Safety Council, a membership organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health)
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Wildland Fires
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Be Informed of Current Conditions
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1. Know and adhere to your county's current burning restrictions. Burning, welding, fireworks, and many other such activities may be against the law during designated periods of time. (Click Here for Palo Pinto County)
2. Know the current fire weather forecast for your area.(Click Here for Palo Pinto County)
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Use Extreme Caution When Burning Outdoors
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NEVER BURN OUTDOORS WHEN CURRENT COUNTY ORDERS FORBID IT OR WHEN WINDY, DRY CONDITIONS EXIST!
Burning Trash:
1. Burn trash in a safe incinerator that includes: Heavy mesh screen with holes not much longer than 1/4 inch, and a metal barrel in good condition
2. Clear the ground of flammable material around the incinerator at least 10 feet.
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Brush Pile Burning:
1. Pile brush or debris. Piling the fuel will concentrate the heat in a smaller area and enable you to burn more efficiently. This will also reduce the size of the risk area and shorten the length of the firebreak you will need to construct.Windrowed brush piles should run the same direction as the prevailing winds so the fire will carry the entire length of the pile.
2. Plow or rake a firebreak around the debris to be burned. An ordinary farm tractor with a plow or disc har-row may be used to construct a fire break in most areas. If it is not possible to plow a fireline, a wide area may be mowed around the debris and then a narrow line hand-raked down to mineral soil on the inside and outside edges of the mowed area.The area between these two hand-raked lines can then be burned to provide a wide firebreak.
3. Have adequate equipment and men available to assist in suppressing the fire if it escapes. This support must be at the site before the first match is struck.Useful tools that every farm, ranch, or household already has include garden hoes, rakes, and shovels.Other very valuable equipment includes tractors and plows, barrels of water, wet burlap sacks, livestock spray rigs, and backpack sprayers.The action taken in the first 60 seconds of an escaped fire may determine success or failure.
4. Check the weather. Burning must never be done on the spur of the moment. The weather must be seriously considered because a sudden rise in temperature, shift of wind, or passage of a front can convert your debris into a raging inferno. Wind direction is especially important.You can be financially liable if smoke becomes a problem on nearby highways
(Click Here for Fire Weather Advisories in Your Area)
5. Light your fire properly. As a general rule, fires should be started before 10:00 a.m. if the weather forecast is favorable. This will allow the fire time to subside before mid-day.Most of our sudden wind changes and gusts occur in the afternoon.Burn the area inside your firebreak before you light the main fire so that an area free of flammable materials will surround the debris. Never use gasoline or other explosive material to light the fire. Kerosene or diesel oil will do a good job and will not create a dangerous explosion.
6. Never leave the fire unattended. Stay with your fire until it is completely out.After the debris is burned to your satisfaction, extinguish all embers and burning logs.
7. Notify others of your intention to burn. One of the most important precautions you can take is to notify your local ranger, fire department, and neighbors of your intention to burn debris. Outside the protection area, the Sheriff’s department should also be notified.
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Use Extreme Caution If You Smoke
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1. NEVER throw a lighted cigarette from the window of a vehicle
2. NEVER walk off and leave a burning cigarette
3. Be aware of smoking restrictions when recreating on Federal and State public lands
4. Use ash trays.
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Safe Operation of Off-Road Vehicles When Fire Potential is High
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1. Never park your vehicle on dry grass.
2. Never throw a lighted cigarette out the window of a vehicle.
3. Avoid driving through tall grass.
4. Internal combustion engines on off-road vehicles require a spark arrester.
5. Check and clean the spark arrester.
6. Carry a shovel and fire extinguisher in your vehicle or OHV/ATV.
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Use Extreme Caution in Using Fireworks
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NEVER USE FIREWORKS WHEN CURRENT COUNTY ORDERS FORBID IT OR WHEN WINDY, DRY CONDITIONS EXIST!
1. The use of fireworks is strictly prohibited on ALL Federal and State public lands. .
2. Always read directions
3. Always have adult supervision.
4. Never use fireworks near dry grass or other flammable materials.
5. Have a bucket of water and a hose nearby.
6. Never attempt to re-light or "fix" fireworks.
7. Fireworks are not toys.
8. Use only State Fire Marshal approved fireworks.
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Safely Build, Maintain, and Extinguish Campfires
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1. Clear campfire sight down to bare soil
2. Circle the pit with rocks.
3. Build campfires away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, dry grass, and leaves.
4. Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby.
5. Never leave a campfire unattended.
6. When putting out a campfire, drown the fire, stir it, and drown it again.
7. Always have an adult around to supervise outdoor cooking.
8. Be careful with gas lanterns, barbeques, gas stoves, and anything that can be a source of ignition for a wildfire.
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Make Your Home More Fire Resistant
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1.The roof and exterior structure of your dwelling should be constructed of non-combustible or fire resistant materials such as fire resistant roofing materials, tile, slate, sheet iron, aluminum, brick, or stone. Wood siding, cedar shakes, exterior wood paneling, and other highly combustible materials should be treated with fire retardant chemicals.
2. Remove debris from under sun decks and porches.  Any porch, balcony or overhang with exposed space underneath is fuel for an approaching fire. Overhangs ignite easily by flying embers and by the heat and fire that get trapped underneath. If vegetation is allowed to grow underneath or if the space is used for storage, the hazard is increased significantly. Clear leaves, trash and other combustible materials away from underneath sun decks and porches. Extend 1/2-inch mesh screen from all overhangs down to the ground. Enclose wooden stilts with non-combustible material such as concrete, brick, rock, stucco or metal. Use non-combustible patio furniture and covers. If you're planning a porch or sun deck, use non-combustible or fire-resistant materials.
3. Enclose eaves and overhangs.   Like porches and balconies, eaves trap the heat rising along the exterior siding. Enclose all eaves to reduce the hazard.
4. Cover house vents with wire mesh.   Any attic vent, soffit vent, louver or other opening can allow embers and flaming debris to enter a home and ignite it. Cover all openings with 1/4 inch or smaller corrosion-resistant wire mesh. If you're designing louvers, place them in the vertical wall rather than the soffit of the overhang.
5. Install spark arrestors in chimneys and stovepipes.   Chimneys create a hazard when embers escape through the top. To prevent this, install spark arrestors on all chimneys, stovepipes and vents for fuel-burning heaters. Use spark arrestors made of 12-gauge welded or woven wire mesh screen with openings 1/2 inch across. Ask your fire department for exact specifications. If you're building a chimney, use non-combustible materials and make sure the top of the chimney is at least two feet higher than any obstruction within 10 feet of the chimney. Keep the chimney clean.
6. Choose safety glass for windows and sliding glass doors.   Windows allow radiated heat to pass through and ignite combustible materials inside. The larger the pane of glass, the more vulnerable it is to fire. Dual- or triple-pane thermal glass, and fire resistant shutters or drapes, help reduce the wildfire risk. You can also install non-combustible awnings to shield windows and use shatter-resistant glazing such as tempered or wireglass.
7. Prepare for water storage; develop an external water supply such as a small pond, well or pool.
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Create Safety Zones Around Your Home
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1. Create a 30-foot safety zone around the house.   Keep the volume of vegetation in this zone to a minimum. If you live on a hill, extend the zone on the downhill side. Fire spreads rapidly uphill. The steeper the slope, the more open space you will need to protect your home. Swimming pools and patios can be a safety zone and stone walls can act as heat shields and deflect flames. In this zone, you should also do the following: Remove vines from the walls of the house. Move shrubs and other landscaping away from the sides of the house. Prune branches and shrubs within 15 feet of chimneys and stove pipes. Remove tree limbs within 15 feet of the ground. Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns. Replace highly flammable vegetation such as pine, eucalyptus, junipers and fir trees with lower growing, less flammable species. Check with your local fire department or garden store for suggestions. Replace vegetation that has living or dead branches from the ground-level up (these act as ladder fuels for the approaching fire). Cut the lawn often keeping the grass at a maximum of 2 inches. Watch grass and other vegetation near the driveway, a source of ignition from automobile exhaust systems. Clear the area of leaves, brush, evergreen cones, dead limbs and fallen trees.
2. Create a second zone at least 100 feet around the house.   This zone should begin about 30 feet from the house and extend to at least 100 feet. In this zone, reduce or replace as much of the most flammable vegetation as possible. If you live on a hill, you may need to extend the zone for several hundred feet to provide the desired level of safety.
3. Clear all combustibles within 30 feet of any structure. Install electrical lines underground, if possible Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines. Avoid using bark and wood chip mulch Stack firewood 100 feet away and uphill from any structure. Store combustible or flammable materials in approved safety containers and keep them away from the house. Keep the gas grill and propane tank at least 15 feet from any structure. Clear an area 15 feet around the grill. Place a 1/4 inch mesh screen over the grill. Always use the grill cautiously but refrain from using it all during high risk times.
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Have A Plan
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1. Determine your community's ability to respond to wildfire. Are roads leading to your property clearly marked? Are the roads wide enough to allow firefighting equipment to get through? Is your house number visible from the roadside? Numbers should be at least 3” in height.Numbers should be in a contrasting color. Numbers should not be covered by trees or obstructions. Numbers posted on mailboxes should be on both sides of the box.
2. Always be ready for an emergency evacuation.Evacuation may be the only way to protect your family in a wildfire. Know where to go and what to bring with you. You should plan several escape routes in case roads are blocked by a wildfire. See Our Family Disaster Planning Page For More Info
3. If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area: listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the instructions of local officials. Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. Leave the key in the ignition. Close garage windows and doors, but leave them unlocked. Disconnect automatic garage door openers. Confine pets to one room. Make plans to evacuate your pets also. Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relative's home outside the threatened area.
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If A Fire Is Approaching
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1. Evacuate. Evacuate your pets and all family members who are not essential to preparing the home. Anyone with medical or physical limitations and the young and the elderly should be evacuated immediately.
2. Wear Protective Clothing.
3. Remove Combustibles. Clear items that will burn from around the house, including wood piles, lawn furniture, barbecue grills, tarp coverings, etc. Move them outside of your defensible space.
4. Close/Protect Openings. Close outside attic, eaves and basement vents, windows, doors, pet doors, etc. Remove flammable drapes and curtains. Close all shutters, blinds or heavy non-combustible window coverings to reduce radiant heat.
5. Close Inside Doors/Open Damper. Close alt doors inside the house to prevent draft. Open the damper on your fireplace, but close the fireplace screen.
6. Shut Off Gas. Shut off any natural gas, propane or fuel oil supplies at the source.
7. Water. Connect garden hoses. Fill any pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, tubs or other large containers with water.
8. Pumps. If you have gas-powered pumps for water, make sure they are fueled and ready.
9. Ladder. Place a ladder against the house in clear view.
10. Shut Off Gas. Shut off any natural gas, propane or fuel oil supplies at the source.
11. Garage Doors. Disconnect any automatic garage door openers so that doors can still be opened by hand if the power goes out. Close all garage doors.
12. Valuables. Place valuable papers, mementos and anything "you can't live without" inside the car in the garage, ready for quick departure. Any pets still with you should also be put in the car.
13. Lights. Turn on outside lights and leave a light on in every room to make the house more visible in heavy smoke.
14. Don't Lock Up. Leave doors and windows closed but unlocked. It may be necessary for firefighters to gain quick entry into your home to fight fire. The entire area will be isolated and patrolled by sheriff's deputies or police.
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More (Click Here) . . .

Did You Know??

In 2005, fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
~U.S. Fire Administration

Smoking is the number one cause of residential fire deaths in the United States.
~U.S.Fire Administration

1 out of every 5 human-caused wildfires was started by a camp or warming fire that got away
~SmokeyBear.com

1 out of every 10 wildland fires is caused by a careless smoker
~SmokeyBear.com

In 2000, 7.5 million acres burned in the U.S. This is an area roughly equal to the size of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
~SmokeyBear.com

Friction from improperly adjusted brakes and poorly lubricated bearings can generate enough heat to ignite your car or flammable vegetation.
~SmokeyBear.com

Properly working smoke alarms decrease your chances of dying in a fire by half.
~FEMA.gov

In the event of a fire, remember - time is the biggest enemy and every second counts! Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly. In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a house to fill with thick black smoke and become engulfed in flames..

~U.S.Fire Administration