FRITCH, TEXAS -- The cities of Fritch and Borger have enforced a Community Wildfire Preparation Plan with the help of the Texas Forest Service and Global Frontline Solutions.
The plan gives people a layout of what to do when a wildfire is headed their way, and with the history of last year's fires that is sure to be a possibility this year.
"They'll learn, you know, what to do around their homes to give it the best chance to survive a wildfire," Wildland Urban Interface Specialist Joseph Kozlowski stated. "Basically, by maintaining the home and construction, landscaping, things like that long before a fire ever comes will make a huge difference when there is fire in the area."
Many times, there is more to a fire situation than simply grabbing the kids and running to safety. The CWPP illustrates this and gives options on when to leave the home, where to go, how to get there and which items to take. The plan also highlights the importance of ridding the area of hazardous fuels that can enhance the severity of a fire.
"Fuel mitigation projects- you're getting rid of some of the hazardous fuels around the community," Kozlowski said. "When a wildfire does come through, it's a lot less intense, a lot less likely to burn as much in the community. And it allows the fire department to be better prepared to respond to those fires, to protect their community with a lot less effort."
Towns using the plan can apply for government grants that will pay for brochures and other wildfire information to be handed out to citizens.
"We have to apply for those funds and then we have to also show that the community itself is behind it," Fritch Fire Chief Ed Adamson pointed out. "Once the community itself is behind it, it's going to be relatively simple to get the word out."
Both Kozlowski and Adamson added they hope Amarillo, Lubbock and other larger cities will soon abide by the plan.
