Take steps to prevent wildfires
It's National Fire Prevention Week -- and a good time to raise awareness, too, with wildfires becoming a greater risk this time of year as summer humidity dries up with the onset of fall.
Residents in the western reaches of South Florida are most vulnerable to wildfires. Here are some steps homeowners can take to mitigate their fire risk, courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
Keep roofs cleared of flammable debris like pine straw, dead leaves and sticks.
Landscape within your home's immediate perimeter: Space trees at least 15 feet apart and prune the lower limbs near the home so they won't act as a conduit to bring fire up to the roofline or soffits.
Make sure that the home address is clearly visible from the street so emergency vehicles can quickly find the house in case of a fire.
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