NFPA, State Farm Announce Launch of Project Funding Award Application Period for 2017 Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Jan. 13 -- State Farm Companies, an auto, home and individual life insurance provider, issued the following news release:

Every year, brush, grass and forest fires burn across the U.S., and more people are living where wildfires are a real risk. It's not a matter of if it will happen, but when will a community experience a wildfire threat.

To help address this wildfire challenge, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm(TM) are announcing the launch of the project funding awards application period for its fourth national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 6, 2017, which helps communities prepare for and reduce their risk of wildfire damage.

State Farm is providing funding to NFPA for the Preparedness Day event and a portion will be awarded to 150 neighborhood wildfire risk reduction projects being implemented on Saturday, May 6. Preparedness Day gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their community a safer place to live. Project applications can be submitted through March 3. Get more information on how to apply for an award.

According to reports, on average, wildfires burn twice as much land area each year as they did 40 years ago, and the threat continues to increase. In 2016 the final toll of Tennessee wildfires included 14 fatalities and 2,400 structures lost. Wildfires once described by "seasons" are now burning earlier and later in the year across the U.S.

During Preparedness Day 2016, more than 190 projects were undertaken in 35 states and 125 recipients received funding from State Farm for activities that helped make residents and firefighters safer when wildfires happen.

"Working with State Farm on the 2017 Preparedness Day event is exciting," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. "For the last three, years we have watched participation grow to 35 states. We are encouraged and inspired by the number of residents who feel empowered to take the necessary action with regard to wildfire safety."

For more information about national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, funding awards, project ideas and free resources to download, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

Resources:

www.nfpa.org.: http://www.nfpa.org/

Wildfire Education: http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/wildfire-and-seasonal-fires/wildland-fires

Firewise: http://www.firewise.org/

Creating a Home Inventory: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/residence/insurance-2/creating-a-home-inventory/

How to apply for an award: http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/national-wildfire-community-preparedness-day

Protect Your Home from Wildfire: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/safety-2/home-1/protect-your-home-from-wildfire/

State Farm Wildfire Mitigation: http://www.statefarm.com/learning/wildfire/wildfire30.asp

Wildfire Safety Tips: http://learningcenter.statefarm.com/safety-2/severe-weather-1/wildfire-safety-tips/

What to Do After a House Fire: https://learningcenter.statefarm.com/residence/repair/house-fire/index.html

About State Farm

The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto, home and individual life insurance in the United States. Its 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve more than 83 million policies and accounts - nearly 81 million auto, home, life, health and commercial policies, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 35 on the 2016 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.

Read more at https://newsroom.statefarm.com//newsroom.statefarm.com/nfpa-wildfire-preparedness-grant-apps#KsL46jJMgSpWU7Zd.99

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