Wildland Fire Education Toolkit
The
Wildland Fire Education Toolkit was developed
to help extension agents and county foresters increase citizen
awareness of wildfire and how they can live safely in fire-prone
areas of Florida. Over 150 kits were distributed throughout the
state at regional workshops. In the first four months, Florida Forest Service and
Extension educators used these resources to educate over 2000 people
in workshops, reach over 23,000 people in fairs and exhibits, and
promote these concepts with mass media that reaches 2 million Florida
residents. EDIS publications that support this program include:
- Landscaping in Florida with Fire in Mind http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR076
- Designing a Prescribed Fire Demonstration Area http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR060
- Protecting your home from forest fires http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR047
- Effects of Fire on Florida’s Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW132
- Benefits of Prescribed Burning http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR061
- Prescribed Burning Regulations in Florida http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR055
- Where there’s fire there’s smoke: Air Quality and Prescribed Burning in Florida http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR05
Wildfire Risk Assessment for Southern Homeowners
Wildfires are an important and necessary occurrence in many natural areas of the southern United States, but they also present a risk to homes constructed in, or next to, such areas. All homes are not equally at risk for a variety of reasons.
For homeowners, risk is based on nearby land use, vegetation near homes, and building design and materials. If you live in a subdivision surrounded by other homes or developments with abundant green lawns and open space, or in the middle of an urban area, then your wildfire risk is likely low and this risk assessment may not apply to you. However, if your home is located adjacent to or near undeveloped, shrubby or wooded land, then you could be at risk if a wildfire occurs.
This risk assessment will allow you to determine your particular risk to fire as well as the critical factors that increase your risk and how you can reduce them. Use these resources to assess your risk: