Prepare for Wildfire

Fire is FAST! In less than 30 seconds a small flame can turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house or for it to be engulfed in flames.
Fire is HOT! Heat is more threatening than flames. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin.
Fire is DARK! Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.
Fire is DEADLY! Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.

Prepare NOW – See FEMA resources here; Download FEMA Alert App

Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
Know your community’s evacuation plans and find several ways to leave the area. Drive the evacuation routes and find shelter locations. Have a plan for pets and livestock.
Gather emergency supplies, including N95 respirator masks that filter out particles in the air you breathe. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including and updated asthma action plan and medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets.
Designate a room that can be closed off from outside air. Close all doors and windows. Set up a portable air cleaner to keep indoor pollution levels low when smoky conditions exist.
Keep important documents in a fireproof, safe place. Create password-protected digital copies.
Use fire-resistant materials to build, renovate, or make repairs.
Find an outdoor water source with a hose that can reach any area of your property.
Create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris, or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home.
Review insurance coverage to make sure it is enough to replace your property.
Pay attention to air quality alerts.

Survive DURING

Evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to do so.
If trapped, then call 911 and give your location, but be aware that emergency response could be delayed or impossible. Turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.
Use an N95 masks to keep harmful particles out of the air you breathe.
If you are not ordered to evacuate but smoky conditions exist, stay inside in a safe location or go to a community building where smoke levels are lower.

BEFORE a Fire

In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you twice each year, practice your home fire escape plan. Some tips to consider:

Find two ways to get out of each room in the event the primary way is blocked by fire or smoke.
A secondary route might be a window onto a neighboring roof or a collapsible ladder for escape from upper story windows.
Make sure that windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out quickly, and that security bars can be properly opened.
Practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.
Teach children not to hide from firefighters.

For more information about preparing your home for fire (creating a defensible space, using fire-retardant building materials), see the Cal Fire website.

Be Safe AFTER

Listen to authorities to find out when it is safe to return, and whether water is safe to drink.
Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris, and live embers. The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or spark another fire. Consider the danger to pets and livestock.
Send text messages or use social media to reach out to family and friends. Phone systems are often busy following a disaster. Make calls only in emergencies.
Wear a NIOSH certified-respirator dust mask and wet debris down to minimize breathing dust particles.
Document property damage with photographs. Conduct an inventory and contact your insurance company for assistance.
Wildfires dramatically change landscape and ground conditions, which can lead to increased risk of flooding due to heavy rains, flash flooding and mudflows. Flood risk remains significantly higher until vegetation is restored—up to 5 years after a wildfire. Consider purchasing flood insurance to protect the life you’ve built and to assure financial protection from future flooding.

What to Do Before, During & After Wildfire

In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames.

Fire is FAST! In less than 30 seconds a small flame can turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house or for it to be engulfed in flames.

Fire is HOT! Heat is more threatening than flames. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin.

Fire is DARK! Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.

Fire is DEADLY! Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.

Prepare NOW – See FEMA resources here; Download FEMA Alert App

Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.

Know your community’s evacuation plans and find several ways to leave the area. Drive the evacuation routes and find shelter locations. Have a plan for pets and livestock.

Gather emergency supplies, including N95 respirator masks that filter out particles in the air you breathe. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including and updated asthma action plan and medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets.

Designate a room that can be closed off from outside air. Close all doors and windows. Set up a portable air cleaner to keep indoor pollution levels low when smoky conditions exist.

Keep important documents in a fireproof, safe place. Create password-protected digital copies.

Use fire-resistant materials to build, renovate, or make repairs.

Find an outdoor water source with a hose that can reach any area of your property.

Create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris, or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home.

Review insurance coverage to make sure it is enough to replace your property.

Pay attention to air quality alerts.

Survive DURING

Evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to do so.

If trapped, then call 911 and give your location, but be aware that emergency response could be delayed or impossible. Turn on lights to help rescuers find you.

Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.

Use an N95 masks to keep harmful particles out of the air you breathe.

If you are not ordered to evacuate but smoky conditions exist, stay inside in a safe location or go to a community building where smoke levels are lower.

BEFORE a Fire

In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you twice each year, practice your home fire escape plan. Some tips to consider:

Find two ways to get out of each room in the event the primary way is blocked by fire or smoke.

A secondary route might be a window onto a neighboring roof or a collapsible ladder for escape from upper story windows.

Make sure that windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out quickly, and that security bars can be properly opened.

Practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.

Teach children not to hide from firefighters.

For more information about preparing your home for fire (creating a defensible space, using fire-retardant building materials), see the Cal Fire website.

Be Safe AFTER

Listen to authorities to find out when it is safe to return, and whether water is safe to drink.

Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris, and live embers. The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or spark another fire. Consider the danger to pets and livestock.

Send text messages or use social media to reach out to family and friends. Phone systems are often busy following a disaster. Make calls only in emergencies.

Wear a NIOSH certified-respirator dust mask and wet debris down to minimize breathing dust particles.

Document property damage with photographs. Conduct an inventory and contact your insurance company for assistance.

Associated Links

Source: Readyforwildfire.org and FEMA’s Ready.gov