When one hears of wildfires, many in Oklahoma associate them to areas such as California, Oregon and Colorado.  Oklahoma, and specifically Sand Springs are very susceptible to have them as well, with much of Sand Springs nestled in the hills of Osage and Tulsa counties.

This vulnerability comes from the increase of building homes in the wildland-urban interface – the zone where homes are intermixed with wildland vegetation.  In fact nearly 44 million homes in the lower 48 states are located in areas that meet or intermingle with wildland vegetation.

By taking a few simple steps, homeowners in the wildland-urban-interface can lessen their risk of losing their home and belongings, such as:

• Use non-combustible or fire resistant materials such as fire resistant roofing materials, tile, slate, sheet iron, aluminum, brick, or stone for roof and exterior coverings
• Apply fire retardent chemicals to wood siding, cedar shakes, exterior wood paneling, and other highly combustible materials
• Create a defensible safety perimeter around your home
• Remove dead vegetation from your roof and gutters
• Provide a non-flammable mesh cover for chimneys and stovepipes
• Keep heating fuel (woodpiles) and scrap lumber 100 feet from home

More information on making your home safer during wildfires can be in these documents - Homeowner Checklist or Wildfire Home Assessment and Checklist.

Never hesitate to call 911 if you see or suspect a uncontrolled wildland fire!