NFPA receives grant from State Farm for second annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

Funds to support wildfire risk reduction projects for communities

February 3, 2015 – Every year, wildfires burn across the U.S. and more and more people are living where wildfires are a real risk. Nearly 45 million homes abut or intermingle with grasslands, forests and wildlands, and more than 72,000 U.S. communities are threatened by fire. 

To help communities prepare and reduce their risk of wildfire damage, State Farm® is providing funding to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Wildland Fire Operations Division for its second annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event on May 2, 2015.

State Farm has a long history of providing proactive wildfire safety education to its policyholders in high-risk regions, including NFPA's Firewise materials and concepts. "State Farm finds it important to inform and encourage homeowners and communities to adopt effective wildfire mitigation programs that produce stronger, safer homes where lives are saved and a family’s largest investment is better protected,” said Vickie Hodges, State Farm loss mitigation analyst.

The national Preparedness Day event gives people of all ages a chance to participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their community a safer place to live. A portion of the State Farm grant funding will be awarded to 65 neighborhood wildfire risk reduction projects being implemented during the May 2nd event. Project ideas can be submitted through March 5, 2015. Get more information on how to apply for an award.

"NFPA is thrilled to be partnering with State Farm for our second annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “Their support really does go beyond just dollars. Both organizations are committed to helping empower and encourage residents to take action with regard to fire safety. Having an influential partner like State Farm sends a very powerful message."

Wildfire hazard is a growing threat to communities throughout the United States. The combination of drought, mild temperatures, high winds and an excess of dried vegetation in forests and grasslands has made fire seasons progressively worse over the past 50 years. According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), 2013 saw more than four million acres burned.

For more information about the national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.