What To Do When…

• If you see a fire approaching your home, report it immediately by dialing 9-1-1. Stay on the phone to answer additional questions the emergency dispatcher may ask.
• Dress properly to prevent burns and lifelong scars. Wear long pants, cotton or wool long-sleeve shirts or jackets. Gloves and a damp cloth provide added protection. Do not wear short sleeve shirts or clothing made of synthetic fabrics.

Emergency Wildfire Survival Checklist

Preparing to Evacuate

• Park your car in the garage, heading out with windows closed and keys in the ignition.
• Close the garage door but leave it unlocked. Disconnect the automatic garage door opener in case of power failure.
• Place valuable documents, family mementos, and pets inside the car in the garage ready for quick departure.
• Use your pre-planned route, away from the approaching fire front.
• Keep a flashlight and portable radio with you at all times.
• If trapped by fire while evacuating in your car, park in an area clear of vegetation, close all vehicle windows and vents, cover yourself with a blanket or jacket and lie on the floor.
• If trapped by fire while evacuating on foot, select an area clear of vegetation along a road, or lie in the road ditch. Cover any exposed skin with a jacket or blanket. Avoid canyons that can concentrate and channel fire.

Outside Your Home

• Move combustible yard furniture away from the house or store it in the garage; if it catches fire while outside, the added heat could ignite your house.
• Cover windows, attic openings, eave vents and sub-floor vents with fire resistive material such as 1/2-inch or thicker plywood. This will eliminate the possibility of sparks blowing into hidden areas within the house.
• Close window shutters if they are fire resistive.
• Attach garden hoses to spigots and place them so they can reach any area of your house.
• Fill trash cans and buckets with water and locate them where firefighters can find them.
• If you have an emergency generator or a portable gasoline-powered pump that will supply water from a swimming pool, pond, well or tank, clearly mark its location and make sure it is ready to operate.
• Place a ladder against the house on the side opposite the approaching fire to help firefighters in rapidly getting onto your roof.

Inside Your Home

• Close all windows and doors to prevent sparks from entering your home.
• Close all doors inside the house to slow down fire spread from room to room.
• Turn on a light in each room of your house, on the porch and in the yard. This will make the house more visible in heavy smoke or darkness.
• Shut off liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or natural gas valves.
• Move furniture away from windows and sliding glass doors to keep it from igniting from the heat of fire radiating through windows.
• Remove your curtains and drapes. If you have metal blinds or special fire resistant window coverings, close them to block heat radiation.

If You Stay in Your Home When a Fire Approaches

• Stay inside your house, away from outside walls.
• Close all doors, but leave them unlocked.
• Keep your entire family together and remain calm. Remember: if it gets hot in the house, it is many times hotter and more dangerous outside.

After The Fire Passes

• Check inside the attic for hidden burning embers.
• Check the roof immediately, extinguishing all sparks and embers. If you must climb onto the roof, use caution, especially if it is wet.
• Check your yard for burning woodpiles, trees, fence posts or other materials.
• Keep the doors and windows closed.
• Continue rechecking your home and yard for burning embers for at least 12 hours.