With the fire season having already arrived in parts of the country and quickly approaching the Northwest, many homeowners are starting to think about how to protect their home for the season.

However, they're not the only ones worried.

A recent Seattle Times article reported that major insurance companies in the nation are threatening to cancel coverage if owners don't clear brush, cut down trees or take other precautions against fires. In response, homeowners are upset that these demands are coming at the last minute and seem excessive.

Though most college students aren't yet homeowners, students can learn a couple lessons from this debate.

Many are not aware of the danger of forest fires until they are directly affected. According to the Times article, catastrophic fires (including wildfires) caused $6.4 billion in insured losses between 1986 and 2005.

Homeowners are also complaining that insurance companies are taking advantage of catastrophies. State Farm saw profits climb 65 percent last year after resolving claims from Hurricane Katrina.

Fire awareness is an important solution to this problem. As we come in to the summer, start paying attention to fire warnings. Learn how to properly put out your campfire, and take heed when campfire restrictions are in effect.

Protecting a house from fire is fairly simple and will pay off in the end. Contact your local fire department and find out how to prepare your property before things start to heat up this summer.

Not all catastrophes are preventable, but awareness will diminish the number of fires and also the risk to homes.

While many are skeptical of insurance companies' intentions in implementing these requirements, the concept behind the plan is legitimate.

Homeowners or not, we should all heed Smokey's mantra: Only you can prevent forest fires.