ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)—With wildfires burning across the Commonwealth, the USDA Forest Service reminds the public to be fire aware during the Thanksgiving holiday and offers some tips to ensure everyone’s safety.
The Forest Service wants to help prepare for the dry and windy conditions and busy roads expected on Turkey Day. When it’s dry and windy, these are conditions where wildfires can spark, so it’s extra important to be extra cautious.
Here are some Thanksgiving tips from the Forest service:
- Know and obey local burn bans and fire restrictions.
- Don’t do things that can cause sparks. One less spark is one less wildfire.
- Avoid driving and parking on dry vegetation. The outgoing heat from a vehicle’s undercarriage is enough to start a wildfire.
- Before heading out to the forest, make sure tires are properly inflated. Tire blow-outs have caused significant wildfires.
- Before towing a camper, heck the chains to make sure they are not dragging and lighting up the highway.
- Clean up around your house to make defensible space from wildfire, including mowing the lawn, removing debris from the rood and gutters, clear a 5-foot parameter around your home free of flammable materials.
- Limb up trees and shrubs
- Sign up for local emergency notifications to receive timely information. If told to evacuate, leave early to avoid smoky conditions and emergency vehicles.
For more information on wildfire safety, visit forest information on the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests website.
