University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is once again coordinating the collaborative efforts of federal, state and local fire services; public safety agencies; community organizations; and others to participate in Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month throughout May. This year's theme is "Wildfires Happen. Is your Community Prepared?" to encourage residents of Nevada's wildfire-prone communities to prepare their homes, families and communities for wildfire.

"Wildfire can threaten Nevadan communities and impact homes, property and human life," said Jamie Roice-Gomes, manager of Cooperative Extension's Living With Fire Program. "The key to minimizing the wildfire impact is proactive communities that take steps to prepare."

Events are scheduled across the state to encourage residents to take action. At the Junk the Junipers event on May 4, residents can drop off woody vegetation, such as junipers, that are close to their homes for free at specified locations in Silver Lake and Washoe Valley in northern Nevada. Living With Fire will host wildfire awareness activities as part of the Reno Aces vs. Tacoma Rainers baseball game May 18. The Ember House, a bean-bag-toss game, and the Juniper Toss, a game where participants throw fake juniper trees into a trashcan, will be used at several events to educate children and their parents on wildfire awareness. Some other events throughout the state include:

• May 3: Ember House activity at the Eureka Department of Natural Resources' Firewise event, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Eureka Fairgrounds, 1051 N. Main St. Highway 50 in Eureka.
• May 4: Junk The Junipers, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Nevada Division of Forestry, 885 Eastlake Blvd. in Washoe Valley.
• May 4: Junk The Junipers, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at the lot adjacent to the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District's Silver Lake Volunteer Fire Station, 11525 Red Rock Road in Silver Lake.
• May 4: Ember House activity at the Eureka Department of Natural Resources' Firewise Community Day, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Crescent Valley Fairgrounds, Tenabo St. in Crescent Valley.
• May 5: Ember House activity at Children's Day on the Comstock, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Miner's Park, 106 Carson St. in Virginia City.
• May 11: Ember House activity at Douglas County CERT Safety Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Lampe Park, 1324 Waterloo Lane in Gardnerville.
• May 17: Nevada Fire Board Meeting and Q&A including free lunch, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Greater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Ave. in Reno.• May 18: Juniper Toss activity at Celebrate Washoe Valley, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Washoe Valley State Park, 4855 East Lake Blvd. in Carson City.
• May 18: Wildfire preparedness education and Ember House activity at the Reno Rodeo 100th Anniversary Celebration Reno Aces Vs. Tacoma Rainers, 6:35 p.m., at Greater Nevada Field, 250 Evans Ave. in Reno.
• June 1: Pine Needle Pickup, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at Mount Charleston Fire Protection District Station 853, 36-40 Kyle Canyon Road in Mount Charleston.

Nevadans are invited to find other activities in their area on the Living With Fire Program calendar and to learn about the steps they can take to prepare their homes for wildfire.
Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month is a collaborative effort by local, state and federal firefighting agencies; University of Nevada Cooperative Extension; and many others. Major funding partners include the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Nevada Division of Forestry.

For more information on Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month events and for information on how to reduce your wildfire threat, contact Roice-Gomes at roicej@unce.unr.edu or 775-336-0261.