What is a preparatory step for securing a structure before a wildfire?

Clearing the area around above-ground fuel tanks is crucial as this step directly reduces the risk of igniting the tanks during a wildfire. Wildfires can create extreme heat and flying embers, both of which can lead to explosions if they reach an unprotected fuel source. By ensuring that vegetation, debris, and other flammable materials are removed from around these tanks, it creates a defensible space that minimizes the chances of the tanks igniting.

This action is part of a broader strategy to safeguard structures, as it addresses one of the more significant risks associated with wildfires—flammable materials near critical infrastructure. Taking such measures can provide additional time for occupants to evacuate if necessary and enhances the overall safety of the area.

In contrast, while informing neighboring houses, planning for evacuation, and counting inventory are all important tasks in the context of wildfire preparedness, they do not specifically pertain to the direct safeguarding of structures or features at risk from the fire. These activities support the community’s overall response coordination but do not actively reduce the fire's threat at the immediate site.