For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennifer Jones
208-387-5437 or
U.S. FOREST SERVICE URGES PUBLIC TO BE CAREFUL AND HOMEOWNERS TO BE PREPARED
DUE TO SEVERE WILDFIRE POTENTIAL FORECAST
The U.S. Forest Service is urging the public to help prevent human caused wildfires and homeowners to prepare their homes and propertyto withstand wildfires due to a forecast for above average significant wildfire potential in many parts of the West for the next couple of months.
The “National Wildland Significant Fire Potential Outlook” ( ) released by the National Interagency Fire Center on August 1stpredicts above average significant wildfire potential in large parts of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota through September. This is due to very warm and dry conditions and fuels at near record levels for fire danger in many areas.
Nationally, wildfire activity has been high this year, with more than 5.6 million acres of federal, state, and private land burned so far. That is 1.8 million acres more than the ten year average of 3.8 million acres burned by this time. Currently, there are more than 30 large wildfires burning on approximately 550,000 acres of land nationwide with more than 13,000 firefighters and other fire management personnel working on them. The National Preparedness Level has been at 4, out of a maximum of 5, since early July indicating a high level of wildfire activity and commitment of firefighters, engines, aircraft, and other wildfire management assets nationwide.
Nationally, nearly nine out of ten wildfires are caused by humans through campfires, equipment sparks, debris burning, dragging tow chains, and other means. Record numbers of people are expected to visit National Forests and other public lands this month to observe the
-Continued -
solar eclipse on August 21st, heightening the need for the public to help prevent wildfires.
“The fewer the number of human-caused wildfires we have to respond to, the more firefighters, engines, aircraft, and other wildfire management assets we will have available to respond to the wildfires we can’t prevent, those caused by lightning,” said Larry Sutton, Assistant Director for Operations, Fire and Aviation Management Program, U.S. Forest Service. “We urge members of the public to take the time to learn what they can do to help prevent wildfires and to be extremely cautious.”
Information on how to prevent human-caused wildfires is available at (the newly released Spanish version can be accessed by clicking “ES” in the top right corner of the homepage).
Agencies are also urging the more than 44 million homeowners who live in or adjacent to forests and rangelands, areas known as the wildland urban interface, to take steps to protect their homes and property from wildfires. So far this year, more than 1,200 homes, business, and other structures have burned in wildfires nationwide.
“Property owners can increase the chance their property will survive a wildfire and can provide a safer place for firefighters to do structure protection by taking actions such as clearing flammables from around structures at least 50 to 100 feet, assuring good access to property, and working with neighbors to do the same,” said Pam Leschak, National Wildland Urban Interface Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service. “We’re all in this together and that’s how we’ll best adapt to living with fire. Work together to share the responsibility.”
Information about steps homeowners can take to protect their homes and property from wildfires is available at
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