Shared space can spread fire, too.
You can have the best defensible space in your neighborhood. But if the other properties and shared spaces around you aren’t maintained as well, fire may still find opportunities to spread.
Neighborly is the way to go.
“Won’t you be my neighbor?” is probably the most powerful thing Mr. Rogers ever said on his television show. It packs a lot of emotional power and continues to be an important message, especially in wildfire survival.
If your neighborhood is filled with weeds and poorly maintained defensible space, your chances of surviving a wildfire as a community are greatly diminished. We are definitely all in this together, from your property to your neighbor’s property to the shared spaces in between.
Be a leader in creating community defensible space.
Get some neighbors together to create awareness and a “Let’s do this together” spirit for protecting your community during a wildfire.
Here are some ideas for getting started:
- Hook your computer up to your TV and get some neighbors together for a big-screen review of the Be Ready, Butte! website, complete with snacks and cocktails. Encourage discussions and build a fire-smart fan base!
- Organize a casual neighborhood walk-around to look for shared areas in need of some defensible space TLC.
- Once you identify those areas, form a task-group to clean them up.
- Make community defensible space a point of neighborhood pride by seeking official Firewise recognition for your community efforts.
Stepping up to help neighbors understand defensible space and how important it is to work together is critical to protecting our homes and communities during a wildfire.
Thank you for doing your part.