Record-Setting Wildfire Season Highlights Need to
Take Steps Against Worsening Wildfire Threat

TALLAHASSEE (December 8, 2006) - The 2006 wildfire season was one for the record books.  By the first week in December nearly 10 million acres had burned in the lower 48 states. That’s the most since reliable records started being kept around 1960. 

And things may get even worse. Recent studies have linked rising global temperatures to longer and more severe wildfire seasons. Add to this our country's shift from urban to more rural lifestyles near wildland areas and you find that personal risk to wildfires is worsening faster than previously thought.

"The good news is that relatively simple, cost-effective steps can significantly reduce the damaging effects that wildfires can have on your home and family," said Leslie Chapman-Henderson, President and CEO of the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes - FLASH®, Inc. "In fact, of all the disasters we discuss at FLASH, wildfires may be the easiest to protect your family from."

To help people make the effort, FLASH has published "Taming Wildfire," a new edition of the organization’s Blueprint for Safety News newsletter.  Available online and in print, the publication tackles myths about wildfire, discusses how to evaluate your wildfire risk, outlines specific steps you can take to better protect your home against wildfire, and more.

Access the free newsletter at:  http://www.flash.org/resources/files/2006FallBFSNewsWildfire.pdf Or call toll-free 877-221-SAFE, to order free printed copies.

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes – FLASH®, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of government agencies, professional associations, and private industry committed to strengthening homes and safeguarding families from disaster.  Based in Tallahassee, Fla., FLASH is the nation’s fastest-growing disaster preparedness organization with more than 80 partners from academic, government, leadership, nonprofit, private and public sector organizations.  To learn more about FLASH and access free homeowner and homebuilder resources, visit www.flash.org or call toll-free (877) 221-SAFE (7233).

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