Wildfire: Are You Prepared?
More and more people are making their homes in woodland settings
in or near forests, rural areas, or remote mountain sites. There,
homeowners enjoy the beauty of the environment but face the very
real danger of wildfire.
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 below to protect your family, home, and property.
Practice Wildfire Safety
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People start most wildfires . . . find out how you can promote
and practice wildfire safety.
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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.
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Report hazardous conditions that could cause a wildfire.
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Teach children about fire safety. Keep matches out of their reach.
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Post fire emergency telephone numbers.
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Plan several escape routes away from your home by car and by foot.
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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.
Protect Your Home
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Regularly clean roof and gutters.
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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.)
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Use 1/2-inch mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas,
and the home itself. Also, screen openings to floors, roof, and
attic.
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Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially
near bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries at least
once each year.
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Teach each family member how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC
type) and show them where it's kept.
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Keep a ladder that will reach the roof.
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Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant
drapes.
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Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools: a rake,
axe, handsaw or chainsaw, bucket, and shovel.
Before Wildfire Threatens
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Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind.
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Select materials and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel
it.
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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.
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Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees.
For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen,
eucalyptus or fir trees.
Create a 30- to 1OO-Foot Safety Zone Around Your Home.
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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 of fice for additional
information.
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Rake leaves, dead limbs, and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation.
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Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures and dispose of
them properly.
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Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns, and remove limbs within
15 feet of the ground.
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Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.
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Prune tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or
chimney outlet.
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Ask the power company to clear branches from powerlines.
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Remove vines from the walls of the home.
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Mow grass regularly.
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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.
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Regularly dispose of newspapers and rubbish at an approved site.
Follow local burning regulations.
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Place stove, fireplace, and grill ashes in a metal bucket, soak
in water for two days, then bury the cold ashes in mineral soil.
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Store gasoline, oily rags, and other flammable materials in approved
safety cans. Place cans in a safe location away from the base
of buildings.
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Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home.
Clear combustible material within 20 feet. Use only UL-approved
woodburning devices.
Plan Your Water Needs
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Identify and maintain an adequate outside water source such as
a small pond, cistern, well, swimming pool, or hydrant.
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Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the
home and other structures on the property.
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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.
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Consider obtaining a portable gasoline-powered pump in case electrical
power is cut off.
When Wildfire Threatens
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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.
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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.
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Confine pets to one room. Make plans to care for your pets in
case you must evacuate.
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Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relative's home outside
the threatened area.
If Advised to Evacuate, Do So Immediately
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Wear protective clothing--sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothing,
long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to
protect your face.
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Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.
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Lock your home.
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Tell someone when you left and where you are going.
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Choose a route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the
speed and direction of fire and smoke.
If You're sure You Have Time, Take Steps to Protect Your Home
Inside:
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Close windows, vents, doors, venetian blinds or non-combustible
window coverings, and heavy drapes. Remove lightweight curtains.
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Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights.
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Open fireplace damper. Close fireplace screens.
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Move flammable furniture into the center of the home away from
windows and sliding-glass doors.
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Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your
home in heavy smoke.
Outside:
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Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial
seals.
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Turn off propane tanks.
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Place combustible patio furniture inside.
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Connect the garden hose to outside taps.
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Set up the portable gasoline-powered pump.
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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.
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-to-carry containers such as backpacks, dufflebags,
or trash containers.
Include:
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A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and
food that won't spoil.
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One change of clothing and footwear per person and one blanket
or sleeping bag per person.
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A first aid kit that includes your family's prescription medications.
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Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight,
and plenty of extra batteries.
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An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, or traveler's
checks.
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Sanitation supplies.
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Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
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An extra pair of eyeglasses.
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Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Assemble
a smaller version of your kit to keep in the trunk of your car.
Create a Family Disaster Plan
Wildfire and other types of disasters--hurricane, flood, tornado,
ealthquake, hazardous matenals 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. . .
Contact your local Red Cross chapter
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Find out about the hazards in your community.
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Ask how you would be warned.
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Find out how to prepare for each type of disaster.
Meet With Your Family
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Discuss the types of disasters that could occur.
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Explain how to prepare and respond to each type of disaster.
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Discuss where to go and what to bring if advised to evacuate.
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Practice what you have discussed.
Plan How Your Family Will Stay in Contact if Separated by
Disaster
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Pick two meeting places:
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A place a safe distance from your home in case of a home
fire.
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A place outside your neighborhood in case you can't return
home.
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Choose an out-of-state friend as a "check-in contact"
for everyone to call.
Complete These Steps
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Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone.
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Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water,
gas, and electricity at main switches.
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Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.
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Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local American Red Cross
chapter for information and training.
For More Information About Fire Safety, Your American Red Cross
Can Provide the Following Materials:
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"Wildfire...Are You Prepared?" (ARC 5020)
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"Are You Ready for a Fire?" (ARC 4456)
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"Está preparado para un incendio?"
(ARC 4456S)
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"Fire Safety Pictorial Brochure" (ARC 5036) designed
for people of low literacy. Contains few words, and those are
in both English and Spanish.
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"Safe Living in Your Manufactured Home" (ARC 4465)
gives fire, flood, and tornado safety information for people who
live in manufactured (mobile) homes.
Special Fire Safety Material for Children
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"Be Ready 1-2-3" features a children's workbook (ARC
5017), Instructor's Manual (ARC 5018), "How-To" Guide
(ARC 5019), and "completion certificate" (C-814) that
involve puppets who give important safety information to children
ages 3-8 about residential fire safety, winter storms, and earthquakes.
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"Fire Safety Activity Poster" (ARC 5034) is an 18"
x 24" poster designed for children ages 4-8 on one side,
and 8-12 on the other. Contains a maze, puzzle, word find, and
coloring pages. In English and Spanish.
Special Fire Safety Information for Educators:
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Fire Prevention Week Campaign Kit (ARC 5016)
Contains
ideas, stories, sample news releases, camera-ready artwork, and
information for use during Fire Prevention Week, and, since most
of the information in the kit is undated, throughout the year.
General Disaster Preparedness Information
General Disaster Preparedness Materials for Children
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"Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book" (PDF File) (ARC 2200, English, or ARC 2200S, Spanish) for children ages 3-10.
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"Adventures of the Disaster Dudes" (ARC 5024) video
and Presenter's Guide for use by an adult with children in grades
4-6.
To get copies of American Red Cross Community Disaster Education
materials, contact your
local Red Cross chapter.
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© Copyright 1998, The American National Red Cross. All
Rights Reserved.
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