Wildfire Safety Resources

Firefighters are on the frontlines when a wildfire strikes. But they are not alone. It is up to all of us to help prevent wildfires, especially when we are camping or staying near a rural or forested area.

Three important wildfire prevention tips are:

1. Campfire responsibility: Campers should always light, maintain, and extinguish campfires responsibly. Do not light a campfire where it is not permitted by local forestry authorities. When extinguishing a campfire, thoroughness is critical. Use water, sand, or dirt to smother the flames, and continue using it as needed. If the burnt material is too hot to touch, then it is hot enough to start a wildfire.
2. Avoid high winds: You should never burn any debris or start a campfire where it is windy. A gust of wind can carry ash and embers out of a campfire and start a wildfire nearby or miles away. If you are not sure if there will be high winds where you will be camping, then you should first contact local forestry authorities for more information.
3. Safe property maintenance: In particularly dry areas, brushfires and wildfires can start in unexpected ways, such as when maintaining your property with various yard equipment. For example, a defective lawnmower can spark and ignite nearby brush. If you live in such an area, then you should always be mindful when maintaining your lawn and property. Keep a shovel and fire extinguisher handy.

All the best prevention methods can never guarantee that a wildfire will not start in your area. It is important to know how to prepare for a wildfire, just in case.

Three simple steps you can take right now to prepare for a wildfire are:

1. Get wildfire alerts: Most regions with a history of wildfires now have wildfire alert systems that notify locals of a growing or approaching wildfire. For example, in California, CAL FIRE has a “Ready for Wildfire” app that can be downloaded on a smartphone. The app will send emergency push notifications to alert the user of nearby wildfires.
2. Create a wildfire go-bag: Wildfires can get out of hand surprisingly fast, and evacuation orders can be issued suddenly. You need to be prepared to leave your home with necessities at a moment’s notice, so you should prepare a wildfire go-bag now. In this emergency kit, you should include face masks, food and water for each person and pet (lasting for at least three days), an evacuation route map, necessary medications, spare money and clothing, basic first aid items, a hand-crank flashlight/radio, a phone charger, and important documents or belongings that you cannot leave behind.
3. Draw an evacuation route: Some of the largest losses of life to wildfires in recent history happened due to poorly maintained evacuation routes that crowded too many cars into one place. You should plan an evacuation route with your household that safely removes you from where a wildfire would most likely begin, such as a nearby forested area. Be mindful that you might have to change your evacuation route when a wildfire begins based on the instructions of evacuation and emergency personnel. You should listen to disaster response personnel when evacuating because they will be acting under the most current information about the wildfire.

Preparing Your Home for a Wildfire

While preparing your household for a wildfire, you should prepare your home for it, too. There are several ways that you can increase your home’s chances of withstanding the heat of a wildfire, which could preserve your valuable property within. Keep in mind that you should not stay in your home as a wildfire approaches if you have been ordered to evacuate. It is better to leave the area than to stay in your home and hope that your preparations have been enough to keep you safe, no matter how thorough you might have been.

You can prepare your home for a wildfire by:

• Installing fire-resistant materials: Construction materials have made impressive advances in recent years. Many parts of your home can likely be upgraded to fire-resistant materials, like roofing, siding, shutters, and windows. Talk to a contractor about what upgrades would be best for your home.
• Seal miscellaneous openings: Embers will drift into any opening in your home that is available. Small ports like doggy doors or attic windows can let embers, smoke, and fumes inside your home when a wildfire is nearby. Make sure that you have a plan to seal these openings in a hurry if needed.
• Clear clutter and debris: Random piles of old clutter, debris, and plant life around your property will be sources of kindling for a passing wildfire. A little ember could ignite them into a big flame. Regularly maintain your yard and property to clear away such piles of clutter.
• Trim low trees: You should trim any tree branches that are within 15 feet of the ground, which is about the average height of a wall of wildfire. By removing lower branches, you can reduce the risk that the entire tree catches on fire and acts as more fuel for the flames.
• Consider watering your property: If a wildfire is in the area, you can call your local fire department’s non-emergency phone number and ask if you should water your property to help slow the fire or deter embers from sparking. You might be told not to water your property because the firefighters need all available water sources and reservoirs.
• Store flammable materials: Any flammable material or liquid on your property must be safely stored and secured. If not, it could become heated in a wildfire and erupt.
• Check your insurance policy: Have you checked your homeowner’s insurance policy lately for wildfire coverage? Review it now and see if you should update your policy based on recent life changes or expensive purchases.