Every year, brush, grass and forest fires burn across the U.S., and more people are living where wildfires are a real risk. It’s not a matter of if it will happen, but when will a community experience a wildfire threat.
To help address this wildfire challenge, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm are announcing the launch of the project funding awards application period for its’ fifth national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 5, 2018, which helps communities prepare for and reduce their risk of wildfire damage.
Funding for 150 wildfire risk reduction projects
State Farm is providing funding to NFPA for the Preparedness Day event and a portion will be awarded to 150 neighbourhood wildfire risk reduction projects being implemented on Saturday, May 5. Preparedness Day gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their community a safer place to live. A free webinar, ‘Completing a Successful Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Funding Application’, will be held on Thursday, January 18 at 2:30 p.m. Project applications can be submitted through March 2.
| During Preparedness Day 2017, more than 400 projects were undertaken in 37 states and 150 recipients received funding from State Farm |
During Preparedness Day 2017, more than 400 projects were undertaken in 37 states and 150 recipients received funding from State Farm for activities that helped make residents and firefighters safer when wildfires happen.
Taking actions regarding wildfire safety
According to reports, on average, wildfires burn twice as much land area each year as they did 40 years ago, and the threat continues to increase. In 2017, California saw its largest fire in history, the Thomas Fire, burn over 273,000 acres and claim the lives of two people, including a firefighter. Wildfires once described by ‘seasons’ are now burning earlier and later in the year across the U.S.
"NFPA is pleased to be working with State Farm on our fifth Preparedness Day campaign," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. "For the last four years we have watched participation continue to grow. In 2017 we saw devastating wildfires affect communities across the U.S., but we are encouraged and inspired by the number of residents who feel empowered to take the necessary action with regard to wildfire safety."
“State Farm finds it important to inform and encourage homeowners and communities to adopt effective wildfire mitigation programs that produce stronger, safer homes where lives are saved and a family’s largest investment is better protected,” said Vickie Hodges, Underwriting Analyst.