Wildfire Season Is Coming. Are You Ready?
It’s not a question of if, but when, the next major wildland fire will occur. Through advanced planning, understanding, and preparation, we can all be partners in the wildland fire solution. If you live next to a dense vegetation area, the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), you should provide firefighters with the defensible space they need to protect your home. Create a buffer zone by removing weeds, brush, and other vegetation. This helps keep the fire away from your home and reduces the risk of flying embers. After you have done everything you can to prepare your home, it is time to prepare your family. Get ready for wildfire by visiting the Cal Fire Wildfire Preparedness fire planner on the Ready for Wildfire website.
Use the following checklists to help prepare and gain situational awareness of the threat of a wildland fire:
Get Ready
Create a defensible space:
- Dispose of or relocate combustible material from around your home. Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof, and gutters.
- Trim trees and bushes, allowing ample space between your home and any vegetation. Keep tree branches 10 feet away from your chimney and other trees. Create horizontal and vertical spacing between grass, shrubs, and trees.
Get Set
Create an evacuation plan:
- Arrange a ‘Go-kit’ with prescription medication, emergency supplies, important documents, and other essential items.
- Create your own action plan; involve your family, and practice exit plans from your home and neighborhood often so everyone is familiar with them in case of an emergency.
- Be sure you’re familiar with local emergency notification systems and evacuation systems.
- Have an evacuation plan for pets and large animals such as horses and other livestock.
- Create a communication plan designating an out-of-area friend or relative as a point of contact to act as a single source of communication among family members in case of separation. (It is easier to call or message 1 person and let them contact others than to try to call everyone when phone, cell, and internet systems can be overloaded during a disaster.)
Go!
Activate plan:
- Get your ‘Go-kit’ and leave well before the threat approaches, following a planned access route.
- Stay aware of the situation and follow your plan.
- Cooperate with local authorities during evacuation and re-entry processes.
Remember the 6 "P's":
Keep the 6 "P's" ready in case immediate evacuation is required:
- People and pets.
- Papers, phone numbers, and important documents.
- Prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses.
- Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia.
- Personal computer hard drive and disks.
- “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash.