10 Ways to Prevent Forest Fires

1. Don’t Set Off Pyrotechnics

We get it: fireworks are as American as baseball and apple pie, and they sure are fun to set off. And gender reveal smoke bombs are all the rage these days, but in a hot and dry environment, they just aren’t worth the risk.

2. CAREFULLY DISPOSE OF SMOKING MATERIALS

Whenever you smoke, douse your butts with water and place them in a fire-proof container to safely dispose of after you’re sure they’ve gone out. And whatever you do, don’t toss them on the ground.

3. CAMP RESPONSIBLY

Before you light up a campfire while camping, ensure the conditions are safe and that there isn’t a fire ban where you are — and never leave your campfire unattended. When you’re done, douse the fire and wait until it’s completely cold to the touch before leaving your campsite. 

4. MOW THE LAWN BEFORE 10 A.M.

If you need to mow your lawn, the California Wildland Fire Coordinating Group recommends doing it early, before temperatures peak. But if it’s excessively windy and dry, wait for another day because the metal blades underneath your mower can easily spark a fire if they strike a rock.

5. MAKE SURE YOUR car's EXHAUST IS UP TO PAR

Check the exhaust of your vehicle, chainsaw, leaf blower, etc. to make sure they're equipped with spark arrestors, which prevent engines from emitting flammable debris. And keep in mind that your exhaust can reach temperatures of 1,000+ degrees!

6. STAY ON THE ROAD

Off-roading is a blast, but it can have deadly consequences if done in grasslands or areas with heavy brush. Stick to gravel and asphalt, especially during dry seasons. In fact, the best time to off-road in fire-prone areas may be when the ground is saturated with rain or covered in snow.

7. Keep a Close Eye on Candles

Innocent though they may seem, candles are a leading cause of home fires. In fact, their flames can burn as hot as 1,400+ degrees! Your best bet? Place them into sturdy containers that can’t be knocked over, like mason jars. And never leave them unattended.

8. Create and Maintain Defensible Space

If you own your home, clear away any dead trees, brush, and vegetation within 100 ft. of all structures. This helps slow and/or stop the spread of wildfires within your community. It will also protect firefighters in the event that they need to battle a blaze around your home.

9. LANDSCAPE FOR FIRE RESISTANCE

While you're at it, incorporate fire-resistant plants like french lavender, sage, and California fuchsia and fire-retardant species like aloe, rockrose, and ice plant into your property. Take it one step further by creating fire-resistant zones with stone walls, patios, decks, etc. 

10. Support Forest Fire Restoration

And finally, supporting forest fire restoration in areas that have experienced fires in the past is an important action for helping to prevent and/or reduce future fires. These projects, which are undertaken by conservation professionals, involve planting species that are native and fire-resistant.

Around the world, forest fires are growing in size, severity, range and frequency. Fueled by climate change, historic landscape management, and more, they aren't going away anytime soon. But neither are we. Once fires have been put out and experts have assessed the damage, we work with our partners around the world to restore ecosystems that have been affected by blazes. 

Want to learn more about what we’re doing to help forests recover? Check out our forest fires recovery tree planting project.