WASHINGTON - As part of America's PrepareAthon!, USDA will host a wildfire themed twitter chat in anticipation of another severe wildfire season in 2014. Drought conditions in the west, especially in California, combine with other factors to portend a dangerous fire season that now could start at any time.

Joining the U.S. Forest Service, officials from CAL FIRE and FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration will answer questions about what federal and state partners are doing to protect communities as well as provide information on how to lessen local impacts when fire strikes.

America's PrepareAthon! is a nationwide, community-based campaign for action to increase emergency preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific drills, group discussions and exercises conducted at the national level every fall and spring. As part of this national campaign, wildfire experts will address such questions as:

How can you minimize wildfire threats to your home if it's near the woods?
What are some ways that wildfires often start in your area? How can you prepare specifically for that?
How has California's drought affected this year's fire season?
What time of year is the most dangerous for wildfires in your area? Are there ways you can prepare even in the off season?
WHO: U.S. Forest Service Fire Chief Tom Harbour, CAL FIRE Chief Ken Pimlott and U.S. Fire Administration Fire Program Specialist Teresa Neal, will host a live Twitter chat to answer questions about how to protect communities and lessen local impacts when fire strikes.

WHERE: Tune in online by following @forestservice and #PrepareAthon

WHEN: 11 a.m., EDT, 8 a.m., PT; Friday, April 25

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Contact: (202) 205-1028
Twitter: @forestservice