Don’t “Fall” Behind 

Santa Fe – Fall weather is finally in the air. Temperatures are getting colder, and nights are getting longer. This also means that trees are shedding their leaves and dropping their needles.  As these burnable materials pile up, they start to form a fuel bed and can quickly become a fire hazard under dry conditions. In the event of a wildfire, those unassuming leaves and needles become a fuel source for floating embers. Sometimes known as “duff,” this mixture of dry vegetation can ignite easily, allowing a wildfire tospread right up to the walls and roof of your home. 

With that in mind, this month’s Wildfire Preparedness Is Year-Round message is “Don’t Fall Behind.” Maintain preparedness for yourself and your family by clearing leaves and debris around your home and on your property. Below are some areas to focus on when you’re thinking about doing some round-the-home fire preparedness activities this fall:  

• Rooftops/Gutters - Typically, the most vulnerable area of a home is the rooftop.  Clean around your rooftop and gutters ensuring they are free of leaves, needles, and vegetation.  
• Decks/Balconies - Decks and balconies should be cleaned and free of leaves and pine needles. 
• Landscape/Outlying Structures - Rake and clear areas surrounding your home and any outlying structures ensuring they are clean and free of debris and leaf litter.   

Preparedness year-round helps to keep your home and property safe from wildfire. For additional preparedness tips visit NFPA - Preparing Homes for Wildfires. 

The New Mexico Forestry Division is working with the Forest Stewards Guild and FACNM, the Santa Fe,Cibola and Carson National Forests, New Mexico Coalition of Conservation Districts, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bureau of Land Management New Mexico to continue our wildfire preparedness calendar in 2023 and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness webpage to follow the campaign throughout the year.