May is Community Wildfire Preparedness Month, and Methow Valley residents are invited to participate in a number of ways.
The new “Fire-Adapted Winthrop” program will offer a demonstration on May 20, clearing heavy accumulations of dead fuel from a highly visible site in the town. Details will be forthcoming.
At the demonstration, pick up information about why this type of cleanup is so important and what you can do to create your own defensible space. If you’d like to lend a hand with light work onsite that day, sign up at our VolunteerMethow.org webpage or call Max Jones at (360) 317-8911.
The demonstration project will be partially funded by a small grant from State Farm through the National Fire Protection Association.
Meanwhile, here are five steps you can take, any of which will improve your home’s defenses:
• Keep your roof and decks clear of debris.
• Remove dead and down limbs, brush and trees. Keep grasses short. Begin at your home and work outward.
• Move woodpiles away from the house or cover with canvas tarps. Keep mowers and fuel cans away from decks and buildings.
• Keep access open by clearing back brush and overhanging branches from your driveway.
• Post your address with easily visible numbers.
For more ideas and information, pick up a copy of “Living with Fire: A Guide for the Homeowner” and other preparedness materials at the information table in Winthrop on May 20. You can also visit MethowReady.org and Firewise.org.
