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Wildfire...

Are You Prepared?

Wildfires often begin unnoticed. They spread quickly, igniting

brush, trees and homes. Reduce your risk by preparing now —

before wildfire strikes. Meet with your family to decide what to do

and where to go if wildfires threaten your area. Follow the steps

listed in this brochure to protect your family, home and property.

There, homeowners

enjoy the beauty of

the environment but

face the very real

danger of wildfire.

■ Contact your local fire department, health department or

forestry office for information

on fire laws. 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 out of

their reach.

■ Post fire emergency telephone

numbers.

■ 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.

Practice Wildfire Safety

People start most wildfires . . . find out how you can promote and

practice wildfire safety.

M ore and more

people are making their homes

in woodland settings

— in or near forests,

rural areas or remote

mountain sites.
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■ 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.

■ 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.

 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.

❏ Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs.

Clear all flammable vegetation.

❏ Remove leaves and rubbish from

under 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 powerlines.

❏ 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

woodburning devices.

Create a 30-50 foot safety zone

around your home

Within this area, you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and

radiant heat. Homes built in pine forests 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 forestry office for additional

information.

Before Wildfire Threatens

PLAN YOUR WATER NEEDS

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

a spark arrester that meets the

requirements of National Fire

Protection Association Code 211.

(Contact your local fire department for exact specifications.)

■ 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.

■ Teach each family member how

to use the fire extinguisher (ABC

type) 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 handy household items

that can be used as fire tools:

a rake, axe, handsaw or chainsaw,

bucket and shovel.
Outside:

❏ Seal attic and ground vents with

pre-cut plywood or commercial

seals.

❏ Turn off propane tanks.

❏ Place combustible patio

furniture inside.

❏ Connect 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.

❏ Wet or remove shrubs within

15 feet of the home.

❏ Gather fire tools.

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.

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.

❏ 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.

❏ Back your car into the garage or

park it in an open space facing the

direction of escape. Shut doors

and roll up windows. Leave the key

in the ignition. Close garage

windows and doors, but leave them

unlocked. Disconnect automatic

garage door openers.

❏ Wear protective clothing —

sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen

clothing, long pants, a longsleeved 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.

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately 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-tocarry containers such as backpacks,

dufflebags 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.
Local sponsorship provided by:

September 1991 FEMA L-191 ARC 4466

Wildfire and other types of disasters — hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake, hazardous materials spill,

winter storm — can strike quickly and without warning. You can cope with disaster by preparing in advance

and working together. Meet with your family to create a disaster plan. To get started...

Practice and review these steps.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Family Protection Program is a nationwide

effort to help people prepare for disasters of all types. For more information, please contact your

local or state office of emergency management.

Ask for: Your Family Disaster Plan,

Disaster Supplies Kit, and

Emergency Preparedness

Checklist

 Or write to: FEMA

 P.O. Box 70274

Contact your local

emergency management

or civil defense 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 your

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 switches.

❏ Contact your local fire department

to learn about home fire hazards.

❏ Learn first aid and CPR. Contact

your local American Red Cross

chapter for information and training.

CREATE A FAMILY DISASTER PLAN