If your home sits near or within Pennsylvania's forests — or if you manage a neighborhood or community that does — wildland fire is not a distant concern. It is a real and growing risk, and the decisions you make about your property today can make an enormous difference when conditions turn dangerous.
In recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, the DCNR Bureau of Forestry's Rothrock District invites homeowners, HOA boards, and local municipal officials to an informative evening session at the Rothrock State Forest office. Join our district fire staff and a special appearance by Smokey Bear for a candid, practical conversation about what wildland fire looks like in central Pennsylvania — and what you can do about it before it arrives at your door.
"The most important firefighting happens long before any flame appears. A few low-cost decisions made in your yard, your landscaping, and your home's exterior can be the difference between a close call and a catastrophic loss. Come find out what they are."
This is not a lecture — it is a working session. Our staff will walk through a detailed scale model illustrating how fire moves through a wildland-urban interface community, showing firsthand the challenges Bureau of Forestry crews face when protecting homes and communities in our district. You will leave with a clear, actionable picture of your own property's risk and a set of practical steps you can begin this fall.
What you will discover
We won't give everything away here — but expect to leave with answers to questions like these:
The zone you may not know about-There is a specific area immediately surrounding your home that matters more than anywhere else on your property. Do you know what it is — and what belongs there?  The cheap fix with outsized impact- Some of the most effective fire-risk reductions cost little to nothing and can be completed on a single weekend afternoon. Most homeowners are surprised by how simple they are.
What your HOA or borough can do
Community-scale decisions about roads, vegetation buffers, and shared spaces can dramatically affect how fire crews are able to respond. Learn what collective action looks like.

Smokey Bear will be on hand. Only you can prevent wildfires — and Smokey has been delivering that message since 1944. Bring a young family member and make it a night. Smokey will be available for photos following the presentation.