On Wednesday a grass fire climbed the foothills above Silverado Resort sparking fears and memories in the minds of those who resided in Napa during the tragic loss of the Atlas Peak fire of 1981.

But this Wednesday, no houses or lives were lost and homeowner preparation played a role in damage prevention.

Remembering back to that extremely hot, dry and windy day 26 years ago, an arson set a series of fires between Napa and Yountville along Silverado Trail.

The result was a massive moving inferno climbing the east foothills and ultimately burning 25,000 acres and destroying more than 65 homes causing $35 million in damages.

With the efforts of residents and more than 700 firefighters, the blaze was extinguished. Incredibly, not one life was lost.

What has remained from that tragic experience and the warning received this week is our ever present vulnerability to the natural hazard of fire.

As we have learned from the disasters of the Oakland foothills and Los Angeles fires, the summer and early fall months bring threats to any area where civilization and development merge with the forests and fuels of open space.

The very nature that draws us to the Napa Valley can easily become a threat to our health and safety.

Fire agencies from the city, county and state have stepped up cooperative efforts to create plans evacuation drills in the most vulnerable areas of the county.

The east and west sides of the valley, where areas of open space merge with residential development, are most critical and most susceptible to fast moving fires regardless of their origin being accidental or intentional.

The question looms, “What can I do, and what steps can I take now to protect my home, my property and possibly the lives of my loved ones?”

Fortunately, experience has provided answers to these questions. A visit to www.fire.ca.gov gives specific actions that you can take to protect your home and property.

Their document, “Homeowners Checklist, How to Make Your Home Fire Safe,” cites six areas outside and six areas inside where you can better protect your property from the threat of fire.

If you do not have Web access, the forestry station on Monticello Road has a printed handout with recommended actions to better fire safe your home. Topics include:

• Create defensible space around your home of 100 feet.

• Maintain a greenbelt of irrigated plants

• Keep trees away from the house.   

• Space out large shrubs and trees.

• Mulch to keep weeds out and moisture in.

• Keep plants in containers, beds or designated areas

• Install address and directional signs for emergency services.

By viewing the information on-line and by distributing it among your neighbors and homeowner associations, you will be doing your part in the team plan to assist in minimizing property loss and fire prevention.

We cannot control the weather. We cannot control the sick and malicious acts of arson.

What we can do is make every effort that history does not repeat itself and that each of us does not become part of that history.