Summer is great, isn’t it? Nice weather, beautiful scenery, long trips, and a few summer showers. But in some areas, summer also means greater fire danger. Although summer is a great time of year, don’t forget to do regular maintenance around your home. Simple everyday chores outside are not only good for you physically, but it is also a great way to keep your yard maintained and out of fire danger. Here’s a simple checklist of "no-cost, but a good workout" things that you can do around your home:

1. Clean out the gutters on your home and/or garage.
2. Prune trees within 30 feet of your home 6-10 feet above the ground.
3. Mow the grass not only in your yard, but along your driveway as well.
4. Rake fallen leaves and other debris from around your home/garage.
5. Clean all debris from under open foundations, such as decks (do not mow under you deck, as you chance the risk of started a fire).

For other ideas and suggestions, contact your local DNR or Firewise Program.

On to other Firewise news in Cook County, our assessment projects are in full swing. We are currently completing assessments in the Hovland, Gunflint Trail and Lutsen areas. The Tait Lake Association is working with the U. S. Forest Service in creating a fire barrier in their area and will be putting in a dry hydrant on Tait Lake. The Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department is looking for an area to put in a dry hydrant next spring and the Hovland Volunteer Fire Department will be starting work on their static tank later this summer. Projects will soon begin in the Devil Track area and we will give updates as the project becomes finalized from the USFS and Maple Hill Volunteer Fire Department.