For those living on the fringes of wildlands, the clock is ticking. Fire is inevitable, and whether people can save their homes may depend on what they do now.

This season is shaping up to be a bad one, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The recent rains disguise the fact that the Inland Northwest has been relatively dry, which sets the stage for wildfires. The first fires will appear in the lowlands in June. By July, the major fires will erupt in the mountains. Wildfires are the most reliable natural disaster in the Northwest.

About 70 percent of Western fires are caused by lightning. The rest can be prevented. Residents can minimize the damage and improve their odds by clearing a defensible space around their homes.

Officials recommend a 30-foot buffer between a house and any flammable materials. That means removing leaves, dead limbs and dense vegetation. Anyone living up against wildlands should have a metal roof, fire-resistant exterior and an access road suitable for emergency vehicles.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department last year found nearly 1,000 homes bordering the woods. More than half lacked a defensible perimeter from which to battle blazes. It wasn’t that long ago – 1991 – that a firestorm claimed 120 houses and caused $20 million in property damage.

Firefighters take great risks and spend enormous sums trying to save homes. In 2000, the federal government embarked on $2.7 billion fire plan to spread the word about safety and to provide financial assistance for those living in dangerous areas. But with more people moving to the hinterlands, the money has been stretched thin.

More than ever, fire readiness has become a matter of personal responsibility. People in isolated areas must accept that preventive measures come with the territory.

As fire season approaches, such residents need to ask what will happen if the big red trucks can’t save them.

Get fire wise. For information on fireproofing your home, go to www.firewise.org. Tips include:

“Clear leaves, trees and vegetation, giving yourself a 30-foot buffer.

“Space trees carefully.

“Have a metal roof and fire-resistant exterior.

“Maintain an accessible driveway for emergency vehicles.