Before wildfire
threatens
Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials
and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel it. Use fire resistant
or non-combustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of the
dwelling. Or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking
or trim with UL-approved fire-retardant chemicals. Plant fire-resistant shrubs
and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen,
eucalyptus or fir trees.
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Create a 30 to 50 foot safety zone
around your home
Within this area, you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and
radiant heat. Homes with lots of evergreen trees around them should have a
minimum safety zone of 100 feet. If your home sits on a steep slope, standard
protective measures may not suffice. Contact your local fire department or
state forest service office for additional information.
- Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation. Remove
leaves and rubbish from under and around structures.
- Thin a 15 foot space between tree crowns, and remove limbs within 15 feet
of the ground.
- Remove dead branches that extend over the roof. Prune tree branches and
shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.
- Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.
- Remove vines from the walls of the home.
- Mow grass regularly.
- Clear a 10 foot area around propane tanks and the barbecue. Place a screen
over the grill - use non-flammable material with mesh no coarser than
one-quarter inch.
- Regularly dispose of newspapers and rubbish at an approved site. Follow
local burning regulations.
- Place stove, fireplace and grill ashes in a metal bucket, soak in water for
two days, then bury the cold ashes in mineral soil.
- Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved safety
cans. Place cans in a safe location away from the base of buildings.
- Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Clear
combustible material within 20 feet. Use only UL-approved wood burning devices
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Protect your
home
- Regularly clean roof and gutters.
- Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them at least once a year.
Keep the dampers in good working order. Equip chimneys and stovepipes with an
approved spark arrester.
- Use 1/2-inch mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas and the home
itself. Also screen openings to floors, roof and attic.
- Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially near
bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries two times each year.
- Install a fire extinguisher. Teach each family member how to use the fire
extinguisher and show them where it's kept.
- Keep a ladder that will reach the roof.
- Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes.
- Keep household items handy that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe,
handsaw or chain saw, bucket and shovel.
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Plan for your water
needs
- Identify and maintain an adequate outside water source such as a small
pond, cistern, well, swimming pool or hydrant.
- Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and
other structures on the property.
- Install freeze-proof exterior water outlets on at least two sides of the
home and near other structures on the property. Install additional outlets at
least 50 feet from the home.
- Consider obtaining a portable gasoline powered pump in case electrical
power is cut off.
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Practice wildfire
safety
- Contact your local fire department for information on local fire codes and
ordinances. Make sure that fire vehicles can get to your home. Clearly mark all
driveway entrances and display your name and address.
- Report hazardous conditions that could cause a wildfire.
- Teach children about fire safety. Keep matches and lighters out of their
reach.
- Post “911”
reminders or fire emergency numbers near the telephone.
- Plan several escape routes away from your home -- by car and by foot.
- Talk to your neighbors about wildfire safety. Plan how the neighborhood
could work together after a wildfire. Make a list of your neighbors' skills
such as medical or technical. Consider how you could help neighbors who have
special needs such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans to take care of
children who may be on their own if parents can't get home.
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When wildfire
threatens
- If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area, listen to your
battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the
instructions of local officials.
- Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the
direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up the windows. Close garage windows
and doors, but leave them unlocked. Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
- Confine pets to one room. Make plans to care for your pets in case you must
evacuate.
- Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relative's home outside the
threatened area.
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If advised to evacuate, do so
immediately
- Wear protective clothing -- sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothing, long
pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and a handkerchief to protect your face.
- Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.
- Lock your home.
- Tell someone when you left and where you are going.
- Choose a route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and
direction of fire and smoke.
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If you're sure you have time, take
steps to protect your home:
Inside
- Close windows, vents, doors, venetian blinds or non-combustible window
coverings and heavy drapes. Remove lightweight curtains.
- Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights.
- Open fireplace damper. Close fireplace screens.
- Move flammable furniture into the center of the home away from windows and
sliding-glass doors.
- Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in
heavy smoke.
Outside
- Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.
- Turn off propane tanks.
- Place combustible patio furniture inside.
- Connect the garden hose to outside taps.
- Set up the portable gasoline-powered pump
- Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near above-ground fuel tanks. Wet the
roof.
- Gather fire tools.
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Emergency
supplies
When wildfire threatens, you won't have time to shop or search for supplies.
Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need if advised to
evacuate. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as
backpacks, duffle bags or trash containers. Include:
- A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that
won't spoil
- One change of clothing and footwear per person and one blanket or sleeping
bag per person.
- A first aid kit that includes your family's prescription medications.
- Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of
extra batteries
- An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash or traveler's checks.
Sanitation supplies. Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family
members
- An extra pair of eyeglasses.
Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Assemble a smaller
version of your kit to keep in the trunk of your car.
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Create a family disaster
plan
Wildfire and other type of disasters -- tornados, floods, earthquakes,
hazardous materials spills, winter storms -- can strike quickly and without
warning. You can cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working
together. Meet with your family and create a disaster plan. To get started...
- Contact your local emergency management office or your local
American Red Cross Chapter:
- Find out about the hazards in your community.
- Ask how you would be warned.
- Find out how to prepare for each type of disaster.
- Meet with your family:
- Discuss the types of disasters that could occur. Explain how to prepare and
respond to each type of disaster.
- Discuss where to go and what to bring if advised to evacuate.
- Practice what you have discussed.
- Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by
disaster
- Pick two meeting places: (1) a place a safe distance from home in case of a
home fire; (2) a place outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home.
- Choose an out-of-state friend as a "check-in contact" for
everyone to call.
- Complete these steps:
- Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone.
- Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas and
electricity at main controls.
- Contact the local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.
- Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local fire department or your local
American Red Cross Chapter for information and training.
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Remember . .
.
Open burning can be a prime cause of wildfires. Ninety five percent of all
wildfires are caused by people. As more people move to and vacation in the
state's fire prone urban wildland interface areas (where housing tracts meet
rolling foothills and mountainous areas), the risk to life and property
increases. Unfortunately, many of the homeowners and vacationers in these
wildfire danger zones are unaware of the land's inherent fire threats.
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