If you’re a glass-half-full kind of person, you’ll appreciate knowing this isn’t the driest year to date in La Plata County. However, in the last 131 years, it is the 10th driest. Thus, it may be a good year to refresh your memory about emergency preparedness.

Prepare, because there may be very limited time to activate in the event of a wildfire evacuation. Picture yourself trying to prioritize and find all your important items under the pressure of a two-hour evacuation notice – it’s a chaotic and stressful scene, is it not?

For more

Additional resources to help you prepare:La Plata County’s Office of Emergency Management: (www.lpcgov.org/livingwithfire.php) free mitigation assessment and more. For those with livestock, visit https://tinyurl.com/3kfs3yas.

Before discussing preparation, it’s worth mentioning that 85% of wildfires are human-caused. That must leave the remaining 15% in the hands of Zeus, the Greek god of lightning.

I have little to suggest when it comes to staying in good graces with Greek gods, but a few tips to offer in line with the wise words of the iconic Smokey Bear? Remember, “Only you can prevent wildfires.”

A campfire is safely extinguished when only ashes remain, it’s no longer hot to the touch (test with caution) and/or no hissing occurs when doused with water. Alternatively, portable propane fire pits turn on and off with the flip of a switch and don’t create sparks. Weigh out the pros and cons to decide what’s best for you.

Effectively extinguishing a campfire takes time. An important reminder for that one person who always wants to add a log to the fire 20 minutes before sleepy time.

Need it be said that throwing a cigarette out of a vehicle creates a wildfire risk? You’d think not, but as the saying goes, stupid is as stupid does.

Now that you’ve maintained equipment that can spark, twisted the chain on your trailer to prevent drag and assessed wind conditions before you burn trash, you’re ready to prepare a grab-and-go emergency kit. For documents, either print a hard copy or save on a flash drive and store in a fire-safe box that you can lift and carry.

Important documents such as IDs and passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards, marriage licenses, insurance documents, including home, health and vehicle and financial documents such as deeds and titles. A list of important contact information may also be useful.Every year, go through your home and take pictures of your possessions. Insurance won’t cover everything you’ve collected over the years, but pictures are better evidence and more reliable than memory.Keep critical medications organized.Create a kit with first aid supplies, N95 masks (for smoke), a multi-use charger for electronics, basic hygiene products, extra sets of clothing and closed-toe shoes. Enough for each person in your household.Write a list of the most important memorabilia you possess, in order of importance. These items may have to be left behind, but the less time you spend on decision, the more time you have to pack.

Having completed your emergency preparation, you can now sit back and safely enjoy the benefits of fire: a backyard barbecue, roasted marshmallows for s’mores, sharing ghost stories or simply allowing yourself to get lost in the mesmerizing dance of campfire flames.

Nicole Clark is director of La Plata County Extension Office. Reach her at [email protected].