Cleanups, tips aim to douse danger of wildfires

The Clark County Fire Department is partnering with local, federal and state agencies to support Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week, which began May 1 and runs through Sunday .

Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week is held each year to build awareness about the potential for wildfires during the spring and summer, when vegetation is driest and more prone to wildland fires in areas such as Mount Charleston.

Fire officials recommend the following tips to reduce the threat of wildfires:

n Clear vegetation and debris around your home to limit the potential amount of fire fuel.

n Properly soak and dispose of cigarette butts, charcoal briquettes and similar materials that can start fires.

n Adhere to posted fire restrictions in U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management areas in Southern Nevada, including Red Rock National Recreation Area and Mount Charleston.

n Equip all-terrain vehicles and similar vehicles with spark arrestors.

n Use fireworks labeled with a “safe and sane” seal from June 28 until July 4, when fireworks are legal under Clark County code. Legal fireworks include sparklers and fireworks that keep to a small, circular area on the ground and don’t explode in the air. Illegal fireworks include firecrackers, roman candles and sky rockets or any item with highly combustible materials.

n If you are warned that a wildland fire is threatening your area, listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the instructions of local officials.

Rural CLeanups planned

As part of Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week, the Nevada Fire Safe Council and various chapters have organized several events in rural areas to encourage residents to clean out hazardous brush and debris from areas around their homes.

n Mount Charleston/Kyle Canyon community curbside chipping is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Kyle Canyon. All Kyle Canyon residents are urged to clear up branches and limbs knocked down by winter storms and haul them to the curb.

n A Logandale Volunteer Fire Station open house is set for 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at Clark County Logandale Fire Station 73, 3570 Lyman St., in Logandale/Overton. The community is invited to meet fire professionals and view equipment used to help fight wildfires. Participating agencies include the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County Fire Department. The open house will include two fundraisers. Money raised from the sales will go toward volunteer efforts within the department, including training opportunities, uniforms and assistance to local families displaced by fires.

n A Mountain Springs community cleanup day and barbecue is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Mountain Springs Fire Station near mile marker 21 on State Route 160.

n A Cold Creek cleanup and potluck is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Cold Creek Fire Station on Camp Bonanza Road in Cold Creek, west of Lee Canyon.

For more information about wildfire safety, visit livingwithfire.info. For information about the events, contact Kim Otero at 496-4114 or kimq@nvfsc.org.