To observe Wildland Fire Awareness Week, a fire evacuation drill and barbecue will be held in the Chimney Rock/Terrace View neighborhood. The drill begins at 10 a.m., and the barbecue follows at noon on the top floor of the Douglas County Administration Building's parking garage, next to Kahle Park. The barbecue is free and open to the public.

The drill and barbecue are hosted by the Chimney Rock Chapter of the Nevada Fire Safe Council, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, the Nevada Department of Transportation, Douglas County Search and Rescue, Douglas County Emergency Management and the Kingsbury General Improvement District.

For more information, call Chimney Rock Chapter Board member Kevin Kjer at (775) 588-6354.

The Chimney Rock Chapter urges all basin residents to take steps to make their homes more survivable and defensible from wildfires. Homeowners can assess their home's defensibility by using the checklist found at www.livingwithfire.info.

To schedule a defensible-space evaluation, call the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District at (775) 588-3591, ext. 227.