Every year, wildfires threaten homes throughout the United States, especially those located in or near wilderness areas. To help address the wildfire threat, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm are providing again (150) $500 grants for wildfire risk reduction projects across the country.
With challenges to holding large public gatherings in many areas this year, NFPA and State Farm are hosting the eighth annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event on Saturday, May 1, 2021 with a focus on what homeowners can do now to help protect their personal property from wildfire.
Non-profits, schools, and fire departments can easily apply for the grant. Funding will be awarded for 150 neighborhood wildfire risk reduction projects. The deadline to submit project applications is Feb. 26, 2021. Visit the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day site for information on applying.
Here are some to-do items that should be on everyone’s Wildfire Preparedness Checklist
- Plan ahead. Prepare a wildfire evacuation kit, Have an evacuation plan.
- Maintain a home inventory and review it with your insurance agent yearly to ensure you are properly insured.
- Move shrubs and other landscaping away from your house walls.
- You may want to have some basic firefighting tools such as hoses, buckets, shovels, axes, rakes and saw. DO NOT attempt to fight large fast-moving fires on your own.
For more information, visit the State Farm Newsroom: https://newsroom.statefarm.com/community-wildfire-preparedness-grant-applications-available.
The Wildfire Community Preparedness Day site: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/National-Wildfire-Community-Preparedness-Day.
