May is Wildfire Awareness Month, making it an essential time in Summit County as wildfires are a yearly concern, especially moving into our summer season. We live in a very dry climate; therefore, we must take preventative measures to mitigate the risk of wildfires.  

Summit Realtors came out with an educational article for homeowners to help prevent the risk of wildfires by mitigating your property. They suggest ten steps to take. These being:   

1.) Remove dry materials within 5 feet of your home and under decks, porches, sheds, and play structures.  

2.) Remove leaves and needles from roofs and gutters.  

3.) Sweep porches and decks clear of any burnable plant material.  

4.) Move firewood at least 30 feet from your home.  

5.) Transfer items under decks or porches to a storage area.  

6.) Cover exposed eave or attic vents with metal mesh screening.  

7.) Ensure home address signs are clearly visible from the street.  

8.) Visit SCAlert.org to register for emergency notifications.  

9.) Confirm at least one alternate path out of your neighborhood.  

10.) Create an inventory of valuables in your home, including written summaries, photos, and videos.  

Read the full article here to learn more about how to do your part to prevent wildfires as a homeowner.  

Summit Fire & EMS also have many resources to help educate the community, mitigate the risk, and act in the case of a fire.    

They encourage all community members to be prepared and take the necessary steps to help prevent wildfires. They have information on planning tips, free wildfire preparation consultations, defensible-space consultations, a free chipping program, videos on what they’ve learned, wildfire danger class and color code, and wildfire mitigation inspections.   

Summit Fire & EMS provides free consultations for wildlife preparation as well as defensible-space consultations. Whether you own in Summit County or enjoy visiting in the summer, it is important to stay updated on fire danger. Always check before camping on the fire ban status; make a list of ways to prepare your home this spring for the summer season.   

To see Summit Fire & EMS’s full list of resources and information, click here.