We Don’t Need Another Hero

How You and Your Community Can Prevent Wildfires

My friend Emily and I watched an old movie called “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” and in it was a song by Tina Turner called “We Don’t Need Another Hero.” It’s a good song, and catchy and it reminded me of something that we often forget—we can all be the heroes we need in this world. This could be the anthem for the quote often attributed to Ghandi:

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

As a member of my town’s volunteer fire brigade, I know that we need to take steps as individuals to help prevent wildfires. We can’t rely on a hero to step in and save us.

But wildfires are terrifying. They destroy our beautiful forests and can even reach our homes. Such catastrophes not only harm the environment but also pose a threat to our lives.

While my friend Sierra says that humans cause wildfires, the truth is that not all wildfires are acts of nature, many are caused by human actions—sometimes even by mistake. And here’s an interesting fact: did you know even the smallest actions of kids like you and me have helped to prevent wildfires? It’s not only possible, it’s something we should strive for!

In this post, I’m going to talk about how we, as a community, can do our part to prevent wildfires.

The Power of Education: Your Knowledge Can Prevent Wildfires

Knowledge is a powerful tool that can help us prevent wildfires. My mom likes to quote Smokey the Bear, saying, “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires.” That was a message from a 1944 campaign by the US Forest Service.¹ This campaign spread awareness about how each one of us has a role to play in preventing forest fires.

In a similar way, we can start wildfire prevention clubs in our schools or neighborhoods. We can also invite local fire department officials or experts to share their knowledge and demonstrate how to handle fires safely. This is a great way to learn about the disastrous outcomes of wildfires and understand that how just a small spark or a carelessly discarded cigarette can cause a massive forest fire!

Fire-Smart Landscaping

If you live in an area prone to fires, have you ever thought of using your garden to prevent wildfires? Fire-Smart Landscaping², sometimes called Firewise Gardening, helps make our homes and neighborhoods more resistant to wildfires.I first learned about Fire-Smart Landscaping from a friend who moved up here from California. She told my fire fighting team about how to use landscaping to both conserve water and make the grounds more resistant to wildfires.

Nothing can 100% prevent wildfires, but you can make your gardens safer. I like to think of it as creating a safety zone which can stop or slow down a fire. While your parents might be the ones choosing which plants to put in your garden, there are things you can do to help without spending any money:

• Water and fertilize the plants you have so they are healthy a strong. A healthy plant can withstand fire better than a stressed one.
• Prune and clean up around your plants. Keeping the dead branches and leaves away reduces risk of fire.
• Keep space between leafier plants and your house or other structures by trimming and pruning them.

If your parents let you help choose plants, choose fire-resistant plants like rockrose, ice plant, or aloe that are high in moisture and less likely to burn. And you can suggest they use drip irrigation, compost. and non-flammable mulches—like rocks.

Remember, keeping trees and plants well-spaced, removing dead leaves, and pruning branches that are too close to the ground are also excellent ways to keep wildfires from nearing our homes.

Building a Fire-Adapted Community

A fire-adapted community acknowledges that wildfires can happen, and takes steps to live safely, even with that risk. If your town is prone to fire, consider rallying your community to begin a “Ready, Set, Go!” program.

• Ready: Create and maintain defensible spaces around homes, prepare for an emergency evacuation.
• Set: Pack essential items, prepare a family communication plan.
• Go: Plan an evacuation route and leave early enough not to block firefighters.

Community workshops can teach these steps and even include success stories of communities who’ve employed this system effectively. You can learn more about this on the Fire Adapted Communities website.

Reporting Wildfires—Fast Action Saves Lives

If you see a fire that’s unattended or out of control, reporting it immediately can make all the difference. Teach this to your family and friends too. Remember to provide detailed information about the location, size, and any other vital details while reporting. Because when it comes to wildfires, every bit of information and every second counts!

If you’re not sure who to call, dial 9-1-1.

Tech-Powered Wildfire Prevention: Where Young Minds Shine

Did you know that tech-savvy kids and teens like us can play a huge role in wildfire prevention? Creating an app or a web platform that gives alerts, shares information about fire-prone areas, and serves as an emergency guide can be immensely helpful. My friend Sierra built an app to track wildfires in our area (read more about this in the book Digital Dryad.) Technology is a potent tool, and when used right, it can equip us to prevent wildfires more effectively.

Uniting to Prevent Wildfires

While the global scope of wildfires might seem daunting, remember each of us can contribute to their prevention. There are things you can do:

• Harness the power of education and spread awareness.
• Adopt fire-smart gardening practices for a safer home.
• Work towards creating and living in a fire-adapted community.
• Act swiftly and report uncontrolled fires immediately.
• Utilize technology and innovation for better wildfire awareness and alert systems.

Preventing wildfires isn’t a task meant only for a superhero; it’s a collective responsibility. Each little action of ours can make a massive difference. Let’s work together to enlist our community’s power to prevent wildfires. After all, prevention is better than cure.

Don’t wait for the spark to catch fire. Be the spark that prevents it!