The Clark County Commission recognized May as Wildfire Awareness Month and is calling on all residents to work together to prevent wildfires and protect property from the threat of wildfire. Wildfire awareness season is May through October in Nevada.
“The threat of wildfire damage and poor air quality conditions are a major concern in Southern Nevada especially during the spring and summer months when vegetation is driest,” said Clark County Assistant Fire Chief Brian O’Neal, who oversees Clark County’s Rural Fire Division. “We are asking the public to limit any activities that could cause fires or make a fire worse if one gets started.”
Clark County’s Fire Department and the Mount Charleston and Moapa Valley Fire Districts are partnering with other local, state and federal agencies throughout the state of Nevada to support the 2023 Nevada Wildfire Awareness Campaign: Protect Our Home, Prepare for Wildfire.” Several communities in Clark County are at risk for wildfire including Kyle Canyon, Lee Canyon and Cold Creek at Mount Charleston, Mountain Springs, Trout Canyon, Blue Diamond, Nelson, Goodsprings, Moapa, Sandy Valley, and Searchlight. One of the worst natural disasters in the County’s history occurred on July 1, 2013, when a lightning strike ignited the enormous Carpenter 1 fire at Mount Charleston. The fire consumed almost 28,000 acres of the forest, destroyed six structures and came dangerously close to homes. An average of 13,000 acres are burned by wildfire each year in Clark County.
The public is encouraged to learn more about wildfire prevention via www.LivingWithFire.info. Tips to reduce the threat of wildfires include:
- Clear dead vegetation (trees, grass, leaves etc.) around your home to limit potential fire fuel.
- Properly soak and dispose of cigarette butts, charcoal briquettes and any materials that can start fires.
- Adhere to posted fire restrictions in National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management areas in Southern Nevada, including Red Rock, Mount Charleston and Lake Mead.
- Follow the rules on fireworks. No fireworks of any type are allowed on public lands – not even those labeled “safe and sane.” Over the July Fourth holiday from June 28 to July 4 each year, local jurisdictions allow “safe and sane” fireworks to be sold by nonprofit groups at licensed and inspected neighborhood stands. “Safe and sane” 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, sky rockets – any item with highly combustible materials. To learn more, visit the inter-agency “You Light It, We Write It” campaign website at www.YouLightItWeWriteIt.Vegas.
- Equip all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and similar vehicles with spark arrestors.
- Remember that roofs constructed from fire resistant materials such as tile, metal or asphalt can significantly increase the survivability of your home, while wood shingle roofs are more burnable.
- 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.
- Learn about Clark County’s efforts to fight the impacts of climate change and promote sustainability at AllinClarkCounty.com/get-involved. Follow us on Twitter @SustainClarkCty.
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Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.3 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2019). Included are the nation’s 8th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.