Wildfire Fact Sheet

As we've all seen in the news lately, wildfires have become an increasing threat to our homes and property. Taking the correct steps to prepare for a wildfire can make the difference between having a home to return to, and having nothing.

• Have an evacuation plan with multiple evacuation routes, be familiar with where you are going, and have a designated meeting place for family members who may be separated during the evacuation. This information will be part of your Family Disaster Plan at MyDisasterPlan.com.
• Designate a "safety zone" in case all evacuation routes are burning, this should be the safest place possible near your home as a last resort if you cannot evacuate
• Have a well stocked, 72 hour disaster kit and "go bag" prepared in advance. Check and update your kits regularly. (see our fact sheets on Disaster Kits and "go bags")
• Plan ahead for pets and livestock
• Have an out-of-town contact to call with updates throughout an emergency. It's easiest if all family members contact the same person to relay information. This will be part of your Family Disaster Plan at MyDisasterPlan.com.
• Secure copies of important papers and a well-documented Home Inventory with MyDisasterPlan.com. You should also have reports from MyDisasterPlan.com saved on a flash drive or CD-ROMs in your disaster kit.
• Know which local TV and radio stations will carry live coverage, emergency broadcasts, or frequent updates in the event of a wildfire emergency.
• Prepare your home and landscape by following the suggestions at www.firewise.org clear brush, debris, and firewood from around your home, ensure that addresses are clearly marked, have adequate water supply to wet the landscape, and have a ladder that can reach your roof.
• Coordinate efforts with your neighbors. Your neighbors' lack of preparation can increase your chances of suffering a loss in the event of a wildfire.

• Listen to a portable radio or television to stay informed of the situation. Wildfires can be unpredictable in their movements.
• Review your Family Disaster Plan from MyDisasterPlan.com, call your out-of-town contact and begin giving them regular updates on your location and progress.
• Load your vehicle with your disaster supplies and valuables, park it facing your direction of escape, and keep your pets confined nearby and ready to go if told to evacuate.
• Prepare a note to leave at your home detailing when you left and where you went.
• Set up a ladder, hoses and sprinklers on your roof. Turn on the water when embers start falling nearby.
• Put on protective clothing, and have something to cover your mouth and nose*.

• If time permits, close all of your doors, windows, air vents, etc. Remove any light-weight curtains, pull flammable furniture into the center of the rooms away from windows, and shut off gas utilities.
• Turn on your interior lights.
• Post your prepared not on your home's main entrance.
• Lock your doors.
• Follow your evacuation route as described in your MyDisasterPlan.com Family Disaster Plan, but deviate if instructed by authorities, or if your primary route is impassible.
• Do not try to re-enter an area that hasn't been deemed safe by authorities yet.

* Most surgical and common dust masks are not effective at filtering out the small particles in the smoke that cause irritation and health problems. Masks that are designed to filter out most of these particles will be marked with "P95", "R95", or "N95". There are even some that filter out greater than 95% of smoke particles and are labeled "P100". Even though these masks are good at filtering out the particles, they need to have a good seal against your face to do their job.

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