Wildfire Safety

Make Your Home Safer From Wildfire 

Most home fires from wildfire are ignited by embers and small flames traveling from the main fire. Embers can be carried more than a mile by the wind to spread the fire to homes or nearby debris. Prepare your home to withstand wildfire dangers:

• Maintain defensible space! 

  - Remove flash fuels such as dead grass or brush (however, do not remove live native plants from open desert areas)
  - Trim trees within the 30-foot defensible space so the canopy is not touching the ground; remove any dead branches or leaves
  - Trim grass and foliage around trees

• Keep gutters, eaves and roof clear of leaves and other debris

• Do not stack wood or other flammable materials with in the 30-foot defensible space

• Keep a rolled-up garden hose with a nozzle attached to an outside hose valve connection

• Do not smoke in open desert areas

Download the NFPA How to Prepare Your Home From Wildfire Fact Sheet in English or Spanish.

Become a Firewise USA® Community

The Firewise USA® program is a community-focused plan designed to reduce the risk of wildfires and safeguard homes from fire damage. The goal is to prepare for a wildfire before it occurs to minimize damage or home loss.     

Mesa Fire and Medical Department can help you get started. We work with communities to educate about the NFPA Firewise USA® program and can help you earn your Firewise community designation. We are available for community presentations and also assist in providing free defensible space evaluations.  

Please contact us for more information about Firewise, or to request a free wildland fire safety assessment. 

Firewise® is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association, Inc. (NFPA).  More information from NFPA is available at https://www.nfpa.org/firewise and http://www.firewise.org/usaURL