Wildfire can happen here though it’s a common misconception that it can’t — and, certainly, not this early. But the county was already struck by a brush fire that scorched an acre in mid-April. Nearly 10 acres were consumed by fire near Little Boston in 2003, and five acres in the Driftwood Key/Shorewoods area burned before that.

With spring upon us, the timing is right to spend some sunny afternoons ensuring that your home can be defended from wildfire.

Remove overhanging branches that could spread a fire from surrounding vegetation to your home’s roof.

Dispose of dry leaves and keep grass cut to deprive a fire of easy-to-ignite fuels.

Limit shrubbery growing in close proximity to the house; trim away dead branches. Clean roof and gutters of dead leaves and needles.

Remove lower branches of surrounding trees so fire can’t easily spread from grasses to the top of trees.

Learn more about protecting your home from wildfire at www.firewise.org.

Oh, and the cause of the April brush fire? An unattended outdoor fire that got out of control. We encourage everyone to follow the outdoor burning rules to prevent this, the most common cause of wildfires.

Free child car seat checks are held at our Paul T. Nichol Headquarters Fire Station, 26642 Miller Bay Road NE near Kingston, on the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Stop by on May 12 to ensure that your children are riding as safe as possible.

Two devastating fires struck Indianola on Easter morning. In both incidents, our crews were on scene quickly but the fires weren’t reported until flames were through the roof. Once a fire has gotten that large, there is very little we can do to save the structure and contents that are already burned. So, under those circumstances, our efforts are best focused on preventing the fire from involving nearby trees or other structures. What might have made a difference in the outcome of the fires on Easter morning? Monitored fire alarm systems provide early warning of danger and automatic dispatch of fire crews. Better still, residential fire sprinklers provide early warning and keep the fire in check until our crews can get there to finish the job. Neither systems are required at residential properties, but both are worth considering as the systems make a significant difference in the amount of damage caused when fire breaks out.

A CPR, First Aid and AED Class will be held at our Paul T. Nichol Headquarters Fire Station on May 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We know that it’s Memorial Day Weekend, but it’s the only Saturday that our instructor is available. To save a spot in the class, pay the tuition of $40 in advance. For more information, call us at (360) 297-3619.

On May 15 at 7 p.m. in the Indianola Clubhouse, we’ll be joining other public safety officials in discussions with that community’s Block Watch program and using the opportunity to answer any questions about the Easter morning fires. On May 16 at noon, we’ll be serving up hamburgers with all the trimmings to the Hansville Neighbors Luncheon as we do every year. When we’re done cooking and serving, we’ll provide the group with an overview of the district’s annual report.

— Michèle Laboda is prevention/community services specialist and public information officer of North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (www.nkfr.org).