FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE
DATE: March 24, 2021
CONTACT: Katie Gibble, Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator, Contact 541.552.2231
City of Ashland Wildfire Safety Campaign Launching this April
Ashland residents are being called to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season through a four-month campaign developed by Ashland Fire & Rescue and the Wildfire Safety Commission.
April: Harden your Home! April will focus on educating residents to harden their structures to embers. Embers account for nearly 90% of ignitions during a wildfire event. Preparing your roof, gutters, decks, and siding to resist ignition by embers can prevent wildfire from burning your home. The work done to harden your home can stop the cycle of home-to-home wildfire spread.
May: Firewise your Landscape! May will focus on educating residents to prepare their yards and landscaping for wildfire. Properly managed home landscaping can stop the spread of flames before they reach your home and resist ignition by embers - the key is to keep your landscaping lean, clean and green. Ashland residents can bring their flammable green debris to Green Debris Drop Off Day, Sunday May 2nd. Information about Drop Off Day can be found at:
ashland.or.us/greendebris
June: Be Ready to Evacuate! June will focus on educating residents to understand the three levels of evacuation: Be Ready (Level 1), Be Set (Level 2), Go! (Level 3). It is important that residents be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice from your home or your workplace by creating an evacuation kit for every member of your household.
July: Be Smokewise! July will focus on helping residents understand what they can do to prepare for the possibility of wildfire smoke. There are several actions residents can take to ensure good air quality in their homes.
Smokewiseashland.org is a one-stop-shop for residents and businesses to learn how to create good air quality inside, to find up-to-date smoke information, and understand how smoke may impact your health.
Details about the Wildfire Preparedness Campaign can be found at
fireadaptedashland.org/wildfireprep. The website includes easy to follow checklists for each month. Information about the campaign will also be on display at local stores and the Tuesday Farmer’s Market in Ashland.
During the campaign we will provide monthly media updates specific to that month’s theme. Opportunities will be available to journalists for interviews, story ideas, and site visits. Please contact Katie Gibble, Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator, for additional information and to make an appointment for interviews.
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