Produced by the National Disaster Education Coalition, Washington, D.C., 1999. Copyright 1999, The American National Red Cross. All Rights Reserved. More and more people are making their homes in woodland settings in or near forests, rural areas, or remote mountain sites. There, homeowners enjoy the beauty of the environment but face the very real danger of wildfire.
Wildfires often begin unnoticed.
They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees, and homes. There are three different classes of wildfires. Learn if you are at risk from wildfire by contacting your local fire department, forestry service, or other emergency response agencies. More than four out of every five forest fires are started by people. Negligent human behavior, such as smoking in forested areas or improperly extinguishing campfires, is the cause of many forest fires.