More than 100 years after Congress passed a law allowing the U.S. Forest Service to help states fight fires, the fires are winning. Since 2000, fires across the United States have been ravaging over 7 million acres a year, double the average of the 1990s. Three years ago, fire charred an area in northeastern Nevada the size of Rhode Island. From the canyons of California to the dry brush of Nevada to the mountains of Utah, wildfires are getting bigger and costlier to fight.

Fire season has been starting earlier and lasting longer, a trend attributed to the drought that has parched vegetation and to the rising temperatures associated with climate change. Growing numbers of people have been moving to areas that are scenic but fire-prone. Even cities are not fireproof. The Oakland hills wildfire in 1991 killed 25 people and destroyed 3,000 structures in a matter of hours.

So how can those of us who love to live near nature protect against this threat?

The first thing we should do is make sure we have 100 feet of "defensible space" around our homes. You can create this kind of zone by pruning trees and bushes, thinning vegetation, and landscaping with stone or brick. Maintaining this space is something we owe our families and neighbors. In California, it is required by law in high-risk areas such as Saratoga and Mill Valley.

You can turn to AAA for help. Learn more about defensible space by visiting AAA.com/safety and clicking on "AAA Tips for Wildfire Safety." The site offers suggestions to help you guard against fires and other dangers.

My family and I live in a wooded area where we use AAA safety tips to maintain defensible space and make our home more fire resistant. A little weekend work may be all you need to restore your peace of mind. Whether you live in a city, the suburbs, or far out in the countryside, it's important to be prepared.