May is Wildfire Awareness Month; Don't Let Your Summer Go Up in Smoke!
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Statewide, Idaho – Idaho Governor Brad Little recently designated May as -Wildfire Awareness Month- and asks everyone to be extra vigilant this fire season. Preventable wildfires threaten lives, property and precious resources every year. Firefighters and emergency responders are needed more than ever to keep Idahoans safe, so please do your part to prevent human-caused wildfires.
“It takes a team approach to battle wildfires and we need everyone to be a part of this team,” said John Ruhs, BLM Idaho State Director. “It is vital that we work together to help lessen the exposure for our firefighters and first responders this fire season.” The wildland fire agencies are using unique measures to ensure all wildland firefighters are trained, qualified and prepared for fire activity considering our current situation.
“Don’t Let Your Summer Go Up in Smoke” is the new motto for the Idaho Fire Prevention and Education campaign that was created with the support from Idaho Firewise, U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, Nez Perce Tribe and the Bureau of Land Management. Wildfires impact some of the most pristine and treasured places and things in Idaho, some of which are symbols for our state, including the Whitebark Pine, the Cutthroat Trout, the Syringa flower and the Mountain Bluebird. We want those legacies to last for many generations and it takes all of us to be personally responsible for fire safety this summer.
Additionally, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) identified May 2 as National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. Due to the current situation, the NFPA has posted the following guidance on ways you can clean up around your home: https://community.nfpa.org/community/fire-break/blog/2020/03/20/covid-19-and-wildfire-community-preparedness-day
For more information about wildland fire prevention and community preparedness, visit www.idahofireinfo.com, www.idahofirewise.org, or http://fireadpated.org/.
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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.