Ding Communications Asked to Put Design Heat to Groundbreaking Fire Adapted Communities Program

Aug. 31, 2010 - PRLog -- RENO, Nev. – Aug. 31, 2010 – The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension commissioned Reno advertising firm Ding Communications to design campaign components for the new Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) program. Coordinated in Nevada by Cooperative Extension, FAC is an innovative outreach plan unfolding nationwide. It educates homeowners on the best methods for protecting their property and lives during a wildfire event.

As the lead agency for the state, Cooperative Extension is organizing northern Nevada’s diverse firefighting agencies around the FAC approach. It’s also providing assistance to the thousands of homeowners living on Wildland-Urban Interfaces (WUI), those urban outskirts bordering the undeveloped, fire susceptible lands surrounding many cities and towns in the Silver State.

“There is a significant shift taking place among fire agencies in the U.S. on the homeowner’s role in protecting their homes,” said Greg Fine, creative director and principal of the marketing firm. “Instead of relying upon the fire fighters to protect them, homeowners are shown how to create a defense against fire that can save their houses. We’re proud of our involvement in bringing about this change in thinking.”

Ding, a Reno-based full-service advertising and marketing firm, was tapped to design several attention-getting communication pieces, including direct mail, poster collateral, a trade show display and a 20-page publication. The work, distributed by regional fire agencies, Cooperative Extension and through other channels, informs neighborhoods how they can proactively save their property and lives before a fire lands at their backdoor.

“The graphics Ding created for us do a great job of conveying the message that Washoe County, for instance, has significant populations at risk from a wildfire,” said Ed Smith, natural resource specialist with Cooperative Extension.

Cooperative Extension has been busy this summer coordinating the FAC outreach efforts for various northern Nevada fire agencies, including the Reno and Sparks Fire Departments, the Sierra Fire Protection District, and the North Lake Tahoe Fire District.  Simultaneously, Cooperative Extension and local firefighting agencies have held a number of neighborhood meetings to introduce homeowners to the new proactive approach.

“Washoe County is one of the first areas in the nation to take the Fire Adapted Community concept and put it into practice,” said Smith. “Other communities are paying attention and will be learning from our experiences.”

Cooperative Extension will continue working with the fire agencies throughout the current fire season, and will continue rollout next spring and summers, as well.

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Placing a high value on one-to-one relationships in a mass media world, Ding Communications provides clients with effective marketing and marketing communications solutions using creative advertising, design, new media and strategic planning. Ding Communications is located at 527 Lander Street in Reno, Nevada, 775-786-3464, www.dingthinking.com.