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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2652 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Helping Communities Prepare For Wildfires (NAPSA)—For the nearly 70,000 U.S. communities threatened by wildfires, it isn’t a matter of if, but when fire will be a natural occurrence in their ecosystem. Wildfires cost billions of dollars each year in suppression costs and damage to homes, infrastructure, the economy and resources. In addition, wildfires put both civilian and firefighter lives at risk. But there is help. The nation’s leaders in wildfire mitigation have partnered to develop Fire Adapted Communities, a prefire strategy to help communities at risk of wildfire save lives and reduce risk to homes, infrastructure and resources. The U.S. Forest Service and the National Fire Protection Association partnered with a coalition of other prominent nonprofit organizations and government agencies to create the Fire Adapted Communities initiative. The campaign website, www.Fireadapted.org, provides straightforward information on national programs, tools and funding sources to help communities at risk from wildfire prepare for fire before it starts. The program takes a community-based approach, encouraging homeowners, land managers, civic leaders and first responders to take proactive steps to make their communities fire adapted. The Ad Council has partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to help deliver the Fire Adapted Communities message nationwide. This national public service advertising campaign raises awareness that those living in fire-prone communities must prepare in advance to mitigate wildfire damage when it occurs. The more proactive actions a community takes, the more fire adapted it becomes. Partnering to Reduce Wildfire Risk According to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, the campaign will help individual homeowners Shopping Used Cars On The Go (NAPSA)—Using your phone while driving is dangerous but using your phone before you drive can help put you on the road to success the next time you consider getting a used car. A new Web portal is available to help communities deal with the threat of wildfires. and communities safeguard their homes from wildfire threats. Said Tidwell, “We are pleased to partner with the Ad Council and the National Fire Protection Association to help educate communities— especially those next to wooded areas—on simple steps they can take to help protect their property and families when wildfires strike.” A History of Collaboration The campaign was created pro bono by advertising agency Draftfcb, which has worked with the Ad Council and U.S. Forest Service for more than 68 years, to address the issue of wildfire prevention with the iconic character Smokey Bear and his famous tagline “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.” Said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council, “We hope that our efforts will influence property owners and community leaders in fire-prone areas to take the necessary steps to prepare in advance of a wildfire, improving the safety and resiliency of their communities.” To learn more, visit Fire Adapted.org. From start to finish, you can save time finding a great used car with help from mobile apps. That’s because mobile apps can help you shop used cars on the go—anytime, anywhere. You can: 1. Compare vehicles by searching local listings with apps from Autotrader.com and Cars.com. 2. Get a quote on insurance. With apps such as those from eSurance.com, you can get a quote as soon as you find the right car. 3. Check history and get important vehicle history information, so you can know more about the used car before you buy it. All you have to do is enter the license plate or scan the VIN when you have the Carfax app. A Carfax Report can reveal: •Accidents or reported damage •Maintenance and service •Previous owners, mileage and so on. The Carfax and other mobile apps are available for iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Learn More Further facts and tips on used car buying are available at www.carfax.com. Improving A Home’s Value And Curb Appeal (NAPSA)—Selling a house in today’s market can be a challenge. The solution may be to think outside the box—or, in this case, outside the structure. In the past, a little paint and some minor renovations might have done the trick, but with so many homes for sale, homeowners are finding interesting new ways to boost curb appeal and buyer interest. While steps such as cleaning up and investing in some landscapes can still deliver results, more homeowners are attracting buyer interest with a system of exterior insulation known as “Outsulation.” Exterior insulation has been shown to lower energy bills and raise buyer interest. Susan Malone of Warwick, Rhode Island, used Outsulation by Dryvit to replace the drab clapboard on her home with a new stonelike exterior complete with architectural flourishes and decorative window accents. The makeover raised her appraisal value and attracted new buyers. “The transformation of my home has been nothing short of amazing—both from the standpoint of how much more beautiful it is and the effect the renovation had on increasing the value of my home. I have been able to save so much money on my energy bills,” said Malone. She used Outsulation by Dryvit, which lets you create an entirely new image. It can be adhesively or mechanically fastened over a building code– approved water-resistive barrier to plywood or OSB substrate. The system offers the look of any traditional finish, including brick, limestone, stucco and stone, plus three-dimensional Besides improving the way it looks, such exterior insulation m a k e s a h o m e m o r e e n e rg y efficient. details like arches, window borders, decorative columns and dramatic doorways. Besides improving the way it looks, such exterior insulation makes a home more energy efficient. It reduced air leakage in Malone’s home by 19 percent—the equivalent of closing up a hole in the wall that would be the size of a soccer ball, or of leaving your front door open for 25 minutes every day. The Outsulation system reduced Malone’s energy bills by 35 percent and helped dampen noise. “My dogs used to wake me up barking at just about any noise they would hear, including the airplanes constantly coming and going over the house,” said Malone, who lives in a fly zone. “But since the renovation, the dogs don’t hear all the sounds they used to, so we are all getting a lot more sleep.” For more information, call (800) 556-7752; in Canada, call (800) 263-3308; or visit www.dryvit homes.com.