10 Ways to Prevent Forest Fires

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 — but in a hot and dry environment, they just aren’t worth the risk.

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.

Before you light a campfire or bonfire, make sure the conditions are safe and that there isn’t a fire ban where you are. When you’re done, douse the fire and wait until it’s completely cold to the touch before leaving your campsite. Never leave a fire unattended.

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 until another day. In these conditions, the metal blades underneath your mower can easily spark a fire if they strike a rock.

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 exceeding 1,000 degrees!

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.

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.

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.

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 landscaping. Take it a step further by building fire-resistant zones with stone walls, patios, decks, etc. 

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