In honor of National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 3, 2025, the Boise Fire Department is urging residents — particularly those living in the wildland-urban interface — to take proactive measures to protect their homes and neighborhoods against the growing threat of wildfires.
With rising temperatures, dry conditions, and more homes being built in the wildland-urban interface, Boise and surrounding communities are facing heightened wildfire risks, as we saw last summer with the Valley and Plex Fires. Boise Fire has partnered with local and regional agencies to promote awareness and action during this important day.
“Wildfire Preparedness Day is a powerful reminder that fire prevention starts at home,” said Boise Fire Wildfire Captain Garrett Kirpach. “By working together as a community, we can reduce the risk of wildfire damage and help keep our neighborhoods safe.”
As part of Boise Fire’s community awareness efforts, new wildfire preparedness billboards are going up across the city. These billboards feature an image of the foothills on fire, serving as a powerful reminder of the wildfire threat in our area, along with a message urging residents to take steps to protect their homes.
On National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, Saturday, May 3, 2025, residents are encouraged to:
- Clear leaves, pine needles, and other flammable debris from roofs, gutters, decks, and yards
- Create and maintain a defensible space of at least 30 feet around homes and structures
- Trim tree branches to reduce fuels and remove dead vegetation
- Store firewood and other combustibles away from structures
- Develop and practice an emergency evacuation plan with family members
- Sign up for CodeRed Emergency Alerts here: https://public.coderedweb.com
Boise Fire offers free wildfire home safety assessments to residents living in the City of Boise’s designated wildland-urban interface. These assessments help homeowners understand their specific wildfire risk and provide guidance on how to reduce hazards around their property. Residents in these areas are also eligible for the department’s chipping program, which assists neighborhoods in safely disposing of branches and brush cleared for defensible space. Both programs are available by request at adafireadapted.org.
“Small actions make a big difference,” said Kirpach. “By taking simple steps today, you can help protect your property and your loved ones from wildfire. The new billboards are just one more way we are reaching out to help our community stay safe.”
To learn more about wildfire preparedness and how to create defensible space around your home, visit adafireadapted.org.
