On Sept. 11, 2021, the Beaver County Conservation District in Oklahoma hosted a “Surviv’n Blazes Block Party” during the annual Beaver County Free Fair. The event attracted more than 100 attendees and was a celebration of wildfire recovery and resiliency following the “412 Wildfire” that blazed through the county on March 7, 2020.

The event featured speakers, vendors, demonstrations, games and entertainment to encourage community members to participate in prevention and be prepared for when wildfire strikes again. Topics addressed included prescribed burns, fire safety, animal care, home protection, fire extinguisher use, emergency response planning, survivors’ advocacy, property assessments and more.

District employee Debra Bolinger says the event aimed to “meet the public where they are and encourage them to prevent what they can and prepare for what they can’t.” She hopes the district’s efforts “will create a ‘snowball effect’ that encourages community members to adopt prevention practices like protection zones, firebreaks, prescribed burning and brush management and encourage their neighbors to do the same.”

Through the event, the Beaver County Conservation District also strove to engage new partners and strengthen relationships between different officials and organizations in Beaver County to create a united front against the common threat of wildfire.

The “Surviv’n Blazes Block Party” was funded with the help of a 2021 Friends of NACD District Grant. As NACD prepares to launch another round of grant funding this fall, please consider becoming a Friend of NACD to help districts across the country pursue new activities and novel approaches to their operations.

Beaver County Conservation District’s “Surviv’n Blazes Block Party” also coincides with National Preparedness Month and is a reminder for all of us to take action this month and beyond to prepare for disasters and emergencies that can strike at any time. Signing up for emergency alerts, safeguarding important documents, making a communications plan, and putting together an evacuation kit are all important steps that individuals and families can take to be prepared. Learn more at Ready.gov.

Tags: Friends of NACD