Federal government looks to stop Arizona wildfires before they spark through education
Forest officials say most of Arizona wildfires have been human-caused. Now, the federal government is looking to stop fires before they spark through education. The federal government is working to prevent Arizona wildfires from occurring through education. Most of the wildfires in the Tonto National Forest this year have been started by individuals, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry. Corey Guerin, Public Information Officer with the Fire Prevention and Education Team, has been asked by firefighters in Arizona to assist in reducing human-caused fires. The team has passed chain holders out to drivers or simply educated them. The main cause of these fires is from the sparks from trail chains dragging on the ground. Another major cause of wildfires is from construction equipment, which is recommended to clean its spark arrestor.
Опубликовано : 10 месяцев назад от Steven Sarabia в Politics
PHOENIX (AZFamily)— Smokey the Bear’s iconic phrase, “Only you can prevent forest fires,” holds significant meaning in Arizona.
Forest officials report that most of the wildfires this year were started by people, either accidentally or by other means.
Forest officials say all of the wildfires sparked in the Tonto National Forest this year have been caused by people. According to the Arizona Department of Forestry, people have caused about 80% of the wildfires in the state so far this year.
“One less spark is one less wildfire is the big messaging we are getting out there right now,” said Corey Guerin, Public Information Officer with the Fire Prevention and Education Team.
Now, the federal government is looking to stop these fires before they spark through education.
Corey Guerin is part of the Fire Prevention and Education Team asked by firefighters in Arizona to come to the state to help reduce human-caused fires.
“We just try and saturate the area with messaging that we can get out there to the public,” said Guerin.
One of the main causes of these fires is from the sparks that come from trail chains dragging on the ground.
This past weekend, Guerin and his team traveled across central Arizona and passed chain holders out to drivers or simply educated them.
“Pretty much-going door to door at local gas stations and pretty much any area the public goes to a lot. We are trying to give that fire prevention message out there as much as we can,” said Guerin.
Another major cause of wildfires is machinery, like construction equipment.
The Fire Prevention and Education Team recommends both construction companies and people with off-road vehicles, lawn equipment, and agricultural or construction machinery check the machine’s spark arrestor. “It’s basically just a mesh screen that catches any embers that come out of the engine.”
You want to make sure the spark arrestor is clean. If you are unsure where one is, they recommend doing an internet search of where to find it on your specific equipment.
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