What safety measures should you take to avoid fires? What would you do if you ever found yourself surrounded by a fire, and how do you avoid the deadly flames during fire season? Below are some simple precautionary steps you can take to protect yourself and your family when dealing with the threat of fires and heat waves in general.
From the Mediterranean to North Africa, and from Australia and the Americas, awareness about how to prevent wildfires has become a crucial and urgent need. Given the frequency and severity of heat waves, what safety precautions should humans take to avoid triggering wildfires?
Only 10-15% of forest fires occur naturally. The rest are due to anthropogenic causes, including unattended campfires, cigarette stubs, deliberate arson, and accidentally starting a fire. Additionally, these activities may sometimes cause the normal fire season to be extended by three months.
During this season, vegetation becomes more flammable and the soil gets drier, increasing the likelihood of fires, which can consume thousands of hectares with astonishing speed, unless the following safety guidelines are respected:
- Protect forests.
- Avoid burning weeds and dry bushes in piles.
- Avoid lighting campfires when camping in green areas, or put out the fires completely before going to bed.
- Do not throw away glass or flammable materials.
- Avoid throwing cigarette stubs out of the car window while driving or in open wooded areas.
- Be cautious when smoking hookah or other types of cigarettes outdoors, especially on windy days.
- Do not use fireworks in forests and populated areas.
- Do not set fire to random waste dumps in forested areas.
- Avoid parking in wooded areas and make sure to remove fuel residue left on dry grass.
- Cooperate with local authorities by reporting any suspicious activity.
- Remove fire hazards around your home.
- Remove weeds and excessive growth in your garden.
- Store any flammable material away from your home.
- Store firewood in closed and protected places.
- Move your grill away from flammable structures and objects.
- Talk to your family and friends about wildfires and preventive measures.
Promote preventive awareness among your community members to protect nature and green spaces, and guide young individuals in adhering to prevention and safety precautions.
*Fossil fuels are turbo-charging extreme weather events and people all over the world are suffering the consequences. While international Oil and Gas Companies count their billions, vulnerable communities especially in the Global South are counting the losses from the record-breaking typhoons, floods, wildfires, droughts, and heatwaves that these companies are fueling. This is the stark reality of climate injustice, and we must end it! It is time to force big oil companies to stop expanding oil and gas production around the world and to bear the cost of the climate devastation they are causing everywhere.