Attachments/Links: Tip Sheet Fact Sheet

California Fire Alliance's "Take Responsibility" campaign
Posted: 06/02/2009

Addressing Wildfires in California Wildland Urban Interface Areas

The Bureau of Land Management’s “Take Responsibility” Campaign

Wildland fires are not new to California. What is new is the number of homes being built in the Wildland urban interface (WUI). While numbers vary, a September 2007 article at ScienceDaily.com cites that an estimated 41 percent of
homes in California lie in WUI zones, with 3.2 million homes at significant risk from wildfires, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office.

Because of this, when fires sweep our state, the impact can be devastating. To help prevent the spreading of wildfires in key WUI areas, the BLM is launching the “Take Responsibility” campaign to reach homeowners about the importance
of creating and maintaining 100 feet of defensible space around their homes and structures. Defensible space is the area around a home or structure that has been landscaped to reduce fire danger and reduce the risk of a fire spreading.

The campaign will implement cost-effective strategies to reach target audiences, including stakeholder engagement and community outreach, creative material development, public service announcements, partnerships, media outreach and digital influence, to raise the level of awareness of the dangers of wildfires and inform people of preventative measures.

Due to increased housing development, the public education campaign focuses on the following regions:

• Trinity
• Shasta
• Butte
• Nevada
• Placer
• El Dorado
• Amador
• Calaveras
• Tuolumne
• Mariposa
• San Benito
• Kern

Additionally, the California Fire Alliance and the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program (FireWise.org) have also developed strategic responses to ensure a cohesive, long-term solution. The BLM has been a part of this solution,
providing assistance to the 170 Fire Safe Councils created to assist communities at-risk.

As a part of this campaign, the CA Fire Alliance has created a FaceBook page via the CA Fire Alliance with tips on how everyone can create and maintain a 100 foot perimeter of clean defensible space around their homes. Throughout the season we will provide updates, as well as have a forum with Q&A's.

The first step for the CA Fire Alliance is to generate a fan
base, so they'd like to ask you to become a member of the group. They also ask you to inform your Facebook friends in CA to join, which will help get the word out. Additionally, they will be profiling people throughout the season, so if you have a great story, send them an email and we may be able to include it.

To join, please type "California Fire Alliance" in the search box on the top right of the page of your Facebook account and become a fan.

They are also on Twitter - just search for "CAFireAlliance" and follow up. Be sure to tell your friends to follow them, too.

They appreciate your help. By making this campaign a success, together we can save lives and property.