With wildfires having been a major pain point in the Western United States in recent years, it makes sense that the world of associations is hoping to get ahead of the issue before things heat up again.

The Arizona Sheriff’s Association (ASA) recently announced it would be adopting the Ready, Set, Go! program, launched by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) in 2011 to encourage public safety in cases of wildfires. The state’s 15 sheriffs have pledged to work with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs on the awareness program.

“We’re excited and proud to implement the Ready, Set, Go! program for all-hazards across the state,” ASA President Mark J. Dannels said in a news release. “Our primary goal is to keep Arizonans safe and we believe the message of preparing early and being set to evacuate at a moment’s notice will help us achieve that goal.”

ASA’s awareness program focuses on tactics the public can take to keep safe, including an encouragement to prepare ahead of time (Ready), a focus on being able to leave at a moment’s notice (Set), and the necessity of knowing when and how to leave (Go!). The program also offers information on what you should do when planning to leave, what to take, and how to defend your property from the risks of wildfire.

ASA’s new take on the program comes after Arizona dealt with a very busy summer in 2017 that saw, at one point, 21 separate wildfires blazing through the state. Additionally, the neighboring state of California was dealing with months of wildfires both in its famed Napa Valley and in Southern California.

A number of associations and governmental agencies have collaborated with IAFC since the launch of the national program, including the National Association of State Foresters, the National Fire Protection Association, and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

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