Attachments/Links: Wildfire Awareness Week - Customizable News Release for Local Councils Print Ads 2004 2003 2002

2004

The California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) and the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CDF) will kick off the annual Wildfire Awareness Week (WAW) public education and media campaign, May 9-15, 2004. We encourage you to use WAW as a tool to generate local media coverage and to encourage citizens and communities to clear defensible space and become active in community fire safety in preparation for the upcoming fire season.

This year’s theme, “It’s a Clear Choice”, has multiple meanings. In light of last year’s fire siege, Californians have a clear choice in making fire safe decisions if they live in a wildland area. Clearance, installing and maintaining a fire resistant landscape, building with fire resistant materials, being active in fire safety in the community, and reporting suspicious activity are just some of the “choices” that can make a difference.

Please use the attached customizable news release for distribution to local media to remind your community about WAW and to publicize your council’s events.

To highlight the California Fire Safe Council’s successful grant programs and encourage California homeowners to prepare for fire season, the CFSC has developed a news release for statewide distribution during Wildfire Awareness Week (WAW). By now, local councils should have received public education materials for distribution in your communities. [If you haven’t received materials or want to request additional materials please contact Rachel Cooper at Rachel.Cooper@mslpr.com or 323/866-6084.]

Also, last year we created the three print PSA ads that you can locate as a link on the right side of this page, which are available for you to submit to your local media, or to duplicate and distribute as handouts in your communities during WAW and throughout fire season.

CDF News Conferences & Events
Most units throughout the state have regional WAW activities planned, so contact your unit if you are interested in partnering up on WAW outreach.

CDF’s statewide Public Education Office is coordinating a kick-off WAW with a Sacramento area news conference with the Amador-El Dorado CDF Unit. This will be held at the Auburn Lake Trails Community just outside of Auburn. Visual displays will include a large shaded fuel break, defensible space examples, fire safe landscaping (both good and bad) and fire crews demonstrating firefighting techniques.

We’d love to know about your successful WAW activities. Please email us an update about your outreach to firesafecouncil@mslpr.com.

Good luck! And thank you for your ongoing commitment to making California fire safe!