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Welcome to the Firewise Forum Blog. We invite you to post responses to the entries on the page. You can do this by accessing the 'Comments' area under any of the articles. The blog moderator reviews all comments for their relevancy to the wildland/urban interface fire issue, and for their content. No commercial entries will be accepted. All approved submissions will be posted.

Protecting Our Treasures

We all have treasures. Some are older and more valuable than others. For some it may be that baseball card of your favorite player that is roughed up on the edges because it was in the spokes of an old bicycle. Or a stuffed animal that could collect social security if it were real. A wedding album full of one and only photos- (before digital!). Point is, we all have something that we cherish- something we cannot replace.

Think about your own treasure for a moment. What would you do without it? Are you doing everything you can to keep it safe?

This ties in to something I thought about during the wildfires that took place in Greece last month. Among the coverage of the tragic wildfires, it was reported that the fires had moved dangerously close to a number of ancient treasures in
Greece such as the ruined temples of Zeus and the stadium that hosted the Olympic games in 776 B.C. Not only were homes in the path of the wildfire, but 3000 year old statues as well. If you think about it, we would not be able to replace these ancient treasures the same way we would not be able to replace an old baseball card. While one may be more important on a cultural scale, on a personal level the impact is the same.

Some may call me crazy for comparing the ancient ruins of Greece to a stuffed animal or baseball card. But ask anyone who has lost a home to fire and the first reaction is not always about the home itself- but the treasures inside. The reality sets in that it is the wedding albums, stuffed animals, baseball cards, etc. that we cannot rebuild or replace.

So, how do we prevent our treasures from being damaged? By making your home
Firewise.

Fact is, wildfires need fuel to burn. If you live in the WUI, and you clear out those fuels by thinning or creating defensible space, your home- and the treasures inside- stand a much better chance of surviving.

And what better time than now to do some Firewise work around your home? September is
National Preparedness Month and the Department of Homeland Security and American Red Cross are working with local, state, and federal officials to promote readiness for emergencies including wildfires.

Implementing Firewise is easy. A few simple steps around your home and community will go a long way toward protecting your homes and your treasures. After all, what is more important than that?

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