This is Part 8 of a twelve part series on getting ready for the fire season. The San Bernardino County Fire Department (SBCoFD) and California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection’s (CalFire) READY! SET! GO! Campaign addresses three key areas that residents should address before a fire starts.
To get READY! for a wildfire, in Parts 1-3 of this series we discussed creating a defensible space around our homes, the steps needed to harden your home, and the vegetation that homeowners can plant that will make their property more fire resistant.
To get SET! for a wildfire, in Parts 4-7 we looked at how to prepare yourself and your home for the possibility of having to evacuate, how to create a Wildfire Action Plan that includes evacuation planning for your home, family, and pets, how to assemble an Emergency Supply Kit for each person in your household, we filled out a Family Communication Plan that includes important evacuation and contact information, and what should be done to be financially prepared for a wildfire.
To GO! when a wildfire does happen, in Parts 8-12, we are going to discuss evacuation guidelines.
GO! EVACUATION GUIDE
Give your household the best chance of surviving a wildfire by being ready to go and evacuating early. This includes going through pre-evacuation preparation steps (only if time allows) to increase your home’s defenses, as well as creating a Wildfire Action Plan for your family. Being ready to go also means knowing when to evacuate and what to do if you become trapped.
Remember: When immediate evacuation is necessary, follow these steps as soon as possible to get ready to GO!
· Review your Evacuation Plan Checklist.
· Ensure your Emergency Supply Kit is in your vehicle.
· Cover-up to protect against heat and flying embers. Wear long pants, long sleeve shirt, heavy shoes/boots, cap, dry bandanna for face cover, goggles or glasses. 100% cotton is preferable.
· Locate your pets and take them with you.
PRE-EVACUATION PREPARATION STEPS
When an evacuation is anticipated, follow these checklists (if time allows) to give your home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.
Home Evacuation Checklist – How to Prepare for Evacuation:
Inside the House
· Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked.
· Remove flammable window shades, curtains and close metal shutters.
· Remove lightweight curtains.
· Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.
· Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights.
· Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions.
· Shut off the air conditioning.
Outside
· Gather up flammable items from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, trash cans, etc.) or place them in your pool.
· Turn off propane tanks.
· Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures.
· Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around the house.
· Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running, they can affect critical water pressure.
· Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night.
· Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle.
· Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you.
· Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof.
· Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.
· Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened.
· Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave.
Animals
· Locate your pets and keep them nearby.
· Prepare farm animals for transport and think about moving them to a safe location early.
In the next article we will discuss the next step in the READY SET GO! Campaign, preparing for power outages.
