As wildfires continue to threaten homes and lives in the state, and as part of National Preparedness Month in September, University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program continues its virtual workshop series, “Five Ways to Prepare Your Family and Property for Wildfire.”

Next week’s session will be presented from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sept. 8, on Zoom. Robert Wooster, field supervisor for Washoe County Regional Animal Services will provide tips on how to be prepared to evacuate animals – whether large or small, home pets or those in barns or pastures. Register for this session online.

“For many of us, our pets and animals are our most prized possessions,” said Jamie Roice-Gomes. Living With Fire Program manager. “It is always heart-wrenching to hear when a wildfire has taken a toll on animals. This session will help animal owners think through how they can be prepared to safely evacuate their animals and will point them toward available resources they can call upon should the need arise.” 

After next week’s session, the workshop series will continue through the rest of September, with workshops on Zoom from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Other session topics include:

• Sept. 15: Be Red Cross Ready, presented by Jill Hemenway, disaster program manager with the Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross. Register online.
• Sept. 22: Five Steps to Creating Effective Defensible Space, presented by Megan Kay and Jamie Roice-Gomes, both with Extension’s Living With Fire Program. Register online.
• Sept. 29: Retrofitting Your Home to Increase Wildfire Survival, presented by Christina Restaino, Extension natural resources specialist with the Living With Fire Program. Register online.

The series is part of Living With Fire’s ongoing efforts to inform residents what they can do to prepare for a wildfire before one ever occurs, in order to help save lives and property.

“It’s easy to get overwhelmed when thinking about all the different ways to prepare for wildfire,” Christina Restaino, Extension natural resources specialist with the Living With Fire Program, said. “This workshop series aims to help residents understand simple steps they can take to get their family, home and property more prepared for wildfire.”

For more information about the workshop series or Extension’s Living With Fire Program, email Roice-Gomes at jamier@unr.edu.