Improving Your Odds in Wildfires

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Every year, wildfire destroys thousands of homes, and burns millions of acres.
Every year, wildfire destroys thousands of homes, and burns millions of acres.
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“Surviving Wildfire” by Linda Masterson helps readers to prepare for the possibility of a wildfire.
“Surviving Wildfire” by Linda Masterson helps readers to prepare for the possibility of a wildfire.

Surviving Wildfire (PixyJack Press, 2012) by Linda Mastersonis a complete guide to preparing yourself and your family to survive wildfires. From what to look for when buying property to evacuation plans, Masterson helps families ensure their safety when this natural disaster strikes. The following excerpt is a guide to improving your odds of survival when at home.

The potential for catastrophic, uncontrollable wildfires grows every year. Fire risk in the WUI and what we can do as a nation to reduce it has of late become a subject of intense scrutiny and study. The amount of information out there is overwhelming. But a couple of simple facts stand out in stark relief. Upwards of 65 percent of all homes now built in the WUI nationwide are in high-fire hazard areas.

A recent study by Headwaters Economics shows that in 11 fire-prone Western states, only about 14 percent of the land in the WUI has actually been developed, leaving 86 percent available for future development. And so the potential for catastrophic fires that gobble up homes is going to continue to grow.

In high fire-hazard areas, it’s not a question of “if” wildfires will occur, but a question of “when.” And of what people can do to live more safely in a fire-prone environment.

  • Published on Apr 6, 2018
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