One spark is all it takes to ignite dry grass and cause a wildfire. An improperly discarded cigarette, an unattended burn pile, or even a lighting strike could cause dry grass to catch fire.

With the right conditions, wildfires can spread over a large area in a short period of time.  In these situations, good preventative measures will go a long way in limiting the amount of damage that’s caused by wildfires.

Here are some tips to help you keep your property protected:

On your property

• Create fire breaks by disking the soil along your fence line and near any power lines on your property to help stop or control the spreading of grass fires, should one ever start. 

• Do not park farm equipment or vehicles on or near tall grass. Hot equipment may be all it takes to spark a wildfire.

• Move hay and other flammable items from possible ignition sources, such as power lines.

Around your home

• Keep the grass around your home trimmed and water it frequently. Tall, dry grass can fuel a fire.

• Clear leaves or other debris from your gutters, eaves and porch or deck. Debris in these areas could be ignited by embers if a wildfire nears your home.

• Trim trees around your house so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet from the ground.

• Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries once per year (or sooner if the alarm is chirping) to ensure they work properly. 

Open Burning

• Always comply with local regulations, such as burn bans.

• Never burn on high-risk days—when there are high winds, the humidity is low or the conditions are particularly dry and hot.

• Create a firebreak around the area being burned.

• Keep firefighting tools handy in case of an emergency, such as a fire extinguisher, water hose, rake and shovel.

• Never leave a fire unattended.