Preparing
for Wild Fire
The threat
of wildland fires for people living near wildland areas or
using recreational facilities in wilderness areas is real.
Advance planning and knowing how to protect buildings in these
areas can lessen the devastation of a wildland fire.
BEFORE
Learn and teach
safe fire practices.
- Build fires
away from nearby trees or bushes.
- Always have
a way to extinguish the fire quickly and completely.
- Never leave
a fire--even a cigarette--burning unattended.
Obtain local
building codes and weed abatement ordinances for structures
built near wooded areas.
Use fire-resistant
materials when building, renovating, or retrofitting structures.
Create a safety
zone to separate the home from combustible plants and vegetation.
- Stone walls
can act as heat shields and deflect flames.
- Swimming
pools and patios can be a safety zone.
Check for fire
hazards around home.
- Install
electrical lines underground, if possible. Keep all tree
and shrub limbs trimmed so they don't come in contact with
the wires.
- Prune all
branches around the residence to a height of 8 to 10 feet.
Keep trees adjacent to buildings free of dead or dying wood
and moss.
- Remove all
dead limbs, needles, and debris from rain gutters.
- Store combustible
or flammable materials in approved safety containers and
keep them away from the house.
- Keep chimney
clean.
- Avoid open
burning completely, and especially during dry season.
Install smoke
detectors on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.
Make evacuation
plans from home and from neighborhood.
Plan several routes in case the fire blocks escape route.
Have disaster
supplies on hand
- Flashlight
with extra batteries
- Portable,
battery-operated radio and extra batteries
- First aid
kit and manual
- Emergency
food and water
- Nonelectric
can opener
- Essential
medicines
- Cash and
credit cards
- Sturdy shoes
Develop an
emergency communication plan.
In case family members are separated from one another during
a wildland fire (a real possibility during the day when
adults are at work and children are at school), have a
plan for getting back together.
Ask an out-of-state
relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After
a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure
everyone knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact
person.
Fire-Resistant
Building Materials
Avoid using
wooden shakes and shingles for a roof. Use tile, stucco, metal
siding, brick, concrete block, rock, or other fire-resistant
materials. Use only thick, tempered safety glass in large windows
and sliding glass doors.
Contact your
local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter
for more information on wildland fires.
DURING
Turn on a battery-operated
radio to get the latest emergency information.
Remove combustible
items from around the house.
- Lawn and
poolside furniture
- Umbrellas
- Tarp coverings
- Firewood
Take down flammable
drapes and curtains and close all venetian blinds or noncombustible
window coverings.
Take action
to protect your home.
- Close all
doors and windows inside your home to prevent draft.
- Close gas
valves and turn off all pilot lights.
- Turn on
a light in each room for visibility in heavy smoke.
- Place valuables
that will not be damaged by water in a pool or pond.
- If hoses
and adequate water are available, leave sprinklers on roofs
and anything that might be damaged by fire.
Be ready to
evacuate all family members and pets when fire nears or when
instructed to do so by local officials.
AFTER
Take care when
re-entering a burned wildland area. Hot spots can flare up
without warning. Check the roof immediately and extinguish
any sparks or embers. Check the attic for hidden burning sparks.
For several hours afterward, re-check for smoke and sparks
throughout the home. If trapped in a Wildland Fire
You cannot outrun a fire. Crouch in a pond or river. Cover
head and upper body with wet clothing. If water is not
around, look for shelter in a cleared area or among a bed
of rocks. Lie flat and cover body with wet clothing or
soil.
Breathe the
air close to the ground through a wet cloth to avoid scorching
lungs or inhaling smoke.
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