In 2021, 58,733 wildfires burned nearly 7.6 million acres in the U.S. In just the first 10 days of 2022, the Marshall Fire in Boulder County, Colorado resulted in more than 1,000 homes damaged or destroyed. State Farm® and the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) have teamed up to help protect families and communities from wildfires.

From now until Feb. 28, individuals, non-profits, schools, and fire departments can easily apply for grants to help cover expenses for a wildfire preparedness projects. Up to 100 participants from across the country are eligible to receive $500 awards to complete a wildfire risk reduction project on Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, Saturday, May 7, 2022.

To be considered for a project funding award, participants must submit an application by Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Visit the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day site for information on applying.

It’s never too early to prepare for a wildfire. Here are some tips on what to do before and after a wildfire.

• Plan ahead. Prepare a wildfire evacuation kit, Have an evacuation plan.
• Maintain a home inventory and review it with your insurance agent yearly to ensure you are properly insured.
• Move shrubs and other landscaping away from your house walls.

• You may want to have some basic firefighting tools such as hoses, buckets, shovels, axes, rakes and saw. DO NOT attempt to fight large fast-moving fires on your own.
• Evacuate or Stay? It is extremely important to follow the evacuation recommendations provided by local authorities or fire officials.

For more information, visit the State Farm Newsroom and the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day site.