The time to get concerned about fire danger to your home is today, says the Bureau of Land Management.

Because firefighting agencies and volunteer fire departments can only do so much, all are responsible for fire safety.

Here are things that homeowners can do to reduce fire hazards on their property:

Clean all grasses, like cheetgrass and red brome, as well as brush from within 30 feet of houses and other structures. Remove the grass; do not burn it.

The 30-foot clearance will reduce the chance of a wildfire igniting your home and provide a safety zone or "defensible space" where firefighters can work.

Keep the area lean, clean and green throughout the fire season. Break up continuous layers of vegetation, use fire-resistant plants where possible.

Make sure liquefied petroleum gas tanks have a 10-foot clearance of flammable vegetation. Make sure all flammable materials, including firewood, are kept away from all buildings.

Keep a connected garden hose with spray nozzle attached in case there is an accidental ignition.

"Defensible space applies to all improvements, not just your own," said Jennifer Myslivy, BLM Battle Mountain and Winnemucca fire mitigation specialist.

Homes surrounded by defensible space are much more likely to survive an encounter with wildfire than those with flammable materials like wood piles, tall grass, weeds and brush around them.

"It is also useful for people to know that firefighters with limited resources are forced to concentrate their efforts on protecting those structures that are most likely to be savable, which often means structures within defensible spaces," said BLM Winnemucca Assistant Fire Management Officer Paul Petersen.

For information on how your community can help protect itself from the dangers of wildfire, contact Myslivy at (775) 635-4000.

Let SCORE help you

Don't place your business plans on vacation. The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), sponsored by the Small Business Administration, is available now to help put your plans to work.

Located at the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce offices in the Nevada State Bank building at 1301 S. Highway 160, SCORE provides confidential free one-on-one counseling and assists in finding money or funding sources including business plan, marketing, break-even point, management guidance and all other features -- all at no charge.

Call Sally at the 727-5800 or SCORE at 727-9471 to schedule an appointment to discuss your business ideas and start on the road to a possible profitable venture.