According to the Forest Service, our forest is in the worst shape it has ever been in. The fire threat is still extremely dangerous and the drought is expected to continue into 2012. You must become educated on how to develop a defensible zone around your house so wildfires have less of a chance to reach your house and firefighters have workable areas to fight the fire. Remember, if your home is not 'defensible' firefighters will move on to your neighbors that is!

It is extremely important that you take action NOW, before the forest is on fire!

Here are some steps you can take right now:

• #1 - Create a defensible zone from 0-30 feet from your home:
  • Wood Decks - skirt wood decks to keep embers and fire from spreading under the deck and igniting the structure. Also clear combustible material, especially pine straw, from the deck
  • Wood Fences - create a break between the wood fence and the house such as a metal gate or a metal fence section
  • Landscaping
    • Use low flammability plants close to the house and avoid plants with leaves that have a high chemical content (pine trees) or low moisture; Yaupon, Saw Palmetto, Juniper, Holly, Mountain Laurel are examples of highly flammable plants.
    • Flammable plants under windows are extremely dangerous and can melt vinyl windows or even ignite light curtains behind the window if the glass is heated to 400 degrees.
    • Clear out undergrowth, especially Yaupon and Palmetto, 0-30 feet from the house
    • Trim and clear small trees and branches on large trees up to 15 feet high to prevent a ground fire from "laddering" up to the tree canopy
    • Remove trees and limbs to create a 10 foot minimum between the branches, structures and other trees
  • Dead Trees and other Fuels - remove
  • Other fuels - such as old lumber, gasoline, LPG, wood piles, burn piles. Remove from your property or at least move 100 feet from any structures
  • Roof Gutters and Valleys - keep clean of combustible material especially pine straw
  • Watering - keep the area 0-30 feet from your house well watered and moist.
  • Firefighter Access - Remove obstacles that woud lprevent firefighters from getting to your house and around your house with their equipment Firefighters cannot enter burning woods to get defend your house, they must have clear access. Driveway gates should be 30 feet back from the road and at least 16 feet wide.

• Other things you can do right now:
  • LPG tanks should be far enough away from buildings for valves to be shut off in case of fire. Keep area around the tank clear of flammable vegetation.
  • Have fire tools handy such as: ladder long enough to reach your roof, shovel, rake, and a bucket or two for water.
  • Place connected garden hoses at all sides of your home for emergency use.
  • Assure that you and your family know all emergency exits from your neighborhood.
  • Sign up for Code Red at www.mc911.org to receive information in the event of an emergency.
  • Citizens are urged to take precautions or limit any activity that may start a wildfire:
    • Do not weld or cut metal outdoors unless on a non-combustible surface such as concrete or asphalt and maintain a distance of at least 25 ft from anything that will burn. Have a water source handy and a person designated as a spotter.
    • Use LPG grills outdoors as an alternative to wood or charcoal cooking. If you do use wood or charcoal, have a metal contained filled with water to dispose of coals, or thoroughly soak the coals before discarding.
    • Be aware of local regulations - Some areas, including The Woodlands and the city of Conroe, have prohibited all outdoor cooking in public parks. All outdoor cooking and camp-fires are prohibited in the Sam Houston National Forest.
    • Have a container handy for all cigarette butts, and use your car's ash tray.
    • As campers and hunters head to the woods this fall, check first with local officials for specific rules regarding camp-fires and outdoor cooking.