Austin Fire Department promotes free structure evaluations and ATX Wildfire Hub tools

Jeff Kennedy of the Austin Fire Department outlined prevention programs available to residents, including free structure ignition‑zone evaluations in which a wildfire advisor walks the exterior of a property to recommend hardening measures. He said the ATX Wildfire Hub offers a do‑it‑yourself evaluation tool and the 'Ready, Set, Go' guide to help households create action plans.

Kennedy described how the evaluations and online tools help homeowners identify vulnerabilities — vents, nearby vegetation and roof exposure — and produce a tailored action plan. "This will help you create an action plan that will establish preparation and evacuation steps," he said, urging residents to use those resources and sign up for WARN Central Texas to receive incident notifications.

The department also encouraged practical household measures such as hydrating during extreme heat, designating an out‑of‑area contact and checking on neighbors who may need assistance.