Wildfires are causing more damage to homes and businesses each year, not only in California but in states as different as Tennessee, Montana and Florida. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm are helping communities take steps toward safety with their fifth annual national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event on May 5, 2018.
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a reminder that there are many steps communities can take to be prepared for wildfire and an opportunity for residents to participate in wildfire safety activities. There is still time to prepare to take action with regard to wildfire safety and NFPA and State Farm encourage people to get involved by planning a project and participating on May 5.
Loss of lives and property damage due to wildfires
Recent wildfire events make the need for Preparedness Day more important than ever before. Last October, more than 40 people lost their lives in a rash of Northern California wildfires that burned more than 245,000 acres. In December, wildfires near Los Angeles forced more than 230,000 people to evacuate their homes. Several other states that experienced large fires in 2017, including Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Utah, have put the U.S. on pace to exceed the average acreage burned annually over the past 10 years.
“Since NFPA and State Farm first partnered together on Preparedness Day, the number of projects has grown tremendously. We are pleased to provide 150 communities with $500 each to fund their wildfire risk reduction activities on May 5,” said Vickie Hodges, P&C underwriting analyst, State Farm. “For State Farm, the largest home insurer in the U.S., it is important to us to take a leadership role in helping homeowners stay safe and better protect their property.”
