Homeowners’ “Inside and Out”
Wildfire Checklist
Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona

Issued by
Alix Rogstad, Fire Education Specialist

Interior

1. Kitchen
  _ A fully charged fire extinguisher is kept in the kitchen.
  _ Electric and gas stoves are in good operating condition.
  _ Baking soda is kept handy to extinguish stove-top grease fires.
  _ Handles of pots and pans containing hot liquids are kept away from the front of the stove.
  _ Flammable curtains and towels are kept away from burners on the stove.
  _ Matches and lighters are stored out of the reach of children.
  _ Flammable liquids are properly stored in approved containers and away from ignition      sources such as pilot lights.

2. Living Room
  _ A screen is installed on the fireplace.
  _ Fireplace and barbeque ashes are stored in a non-combustible container and disposed of      only when cold.
  _ Fireplace chimneys and flues are cleaned at least once a year.

3. Hallway
  _ Smoke detectors are installed between living and sleeping areas.
  _ Smoke detectors are tested monthly and batteries replaced twice a year.
  _ All electrical outlets are designed to handle appliance loads.
  _ Child safety plugs (caps) are inserted on electrical outlets.
  _ Electrical cords that do not work properly, have loose connections or are frayed have      been repaired or replaced.

4. Bedroom
  _ Smoke detectors are installed in the bedrooms.
  _ Electric blankets and other electric appliances are turned off or unplugged when not in use.
     Residents do not smoke in bed.

5. Bathroom
  _ Hot appliances such as curling irons and electric irons are disconnected when not in use      and stored in a safe location until cool.
  _ Flammable items such as towels are kept away from wall and floor heaters.

6. Garage
  _ A fully charged fire extinguisher is mounted in the garage.
  _ Shovel, hoe, rake, and buckets are readily available for use in a wildfire emergency.
  _ A solid door with self-closing hinges is installed between living areas and the garage.
  _ A metal container is available for disposing of oily rags.
  _ All combustibles are stored away from ignition sources such as water heaters.
  _ All electrical tools and appliances are disconnected when not in use.
  _ Hot tools such as glue guns and soldering irons are allowed to cool before storing.

7. Disaster Preparedness
  _ A three-day supply of food is available that does not require refrigeration and generally      does not need cooking.
  _ A three-day supply of drinking water is available.
  _ A portable radio, flashlight, emergency cooking equipment, portable lanterns and batteries      are kept handy.
  _ A First Aid kit is readily available and fully stocked.
  _ A list of valuables has been made and valuables are stored together for easy access and      removal.
  _ A portable generator is kept on hand to supply power to lights and cooking appliances.
  _ A contingency plan has been made to enable family members to contact each other.
  _ All family members are trained and ready to protect themselves with STOP, DROP AND      ROLL in the event their clothing catches on fire.

Exterior

1. Roof
  _ Tree branches touching or overhanging the roof have been removed.
  _ Tree branches within 10 feet of the chimney have been removed.
  _ All dead leaves and needles have been cleaned from the roof and gutters.
  _ Roof meets the Uniform Building Code fire resistance classification of “Class B” or better.
  _ Chimney outlet and stovepipe covered with a nonflammable screen of 1/2 inch or smaller      mesh.

2. Construction
  _ Home placement is away from ridge tops, canyons and areas between high points on a      ridge.
  _ Home placement is at least 30 feet from the property line.
  _ House is constructed with fire resistive building materials.
  _ Underside of balconies and above ground decks are enclosed with fire resistive materials.
  _ Size and number of windows that face large areas of vegetation are limited.
  _ Window are dual-paned or triple-paned glass construction.

3. Landscape
  _ A “defensible space” has been created by modifying flammable vegetation to a distance of      at least 75 feet around all structures.
  _ On steep slopes, flammable vegetation has been modified out to a distance of 100 feet or      more.
  _ Trees and shrubs are at least 10 feet apart.
  _ Branches of remaining trees are pruned 8-10 feet above ground fuel.
  _ Landscape plants are resistive to fire and burning.
  _ The number of trees in heavily wooded areas is reduced by thinning.
  _ All plants are maintained regularly by removing dead branches, leaves and needles.

4. Yard
  _ Woodpiles are stacked at least 30 feet from all structures and flammable vegetation is      cleared away within 10 feet of woodpiles.
  _ LPG tanks (butane and propane) are located at least 30 feet from any structure, on the      same elevation as the home, and surrounded with 10 feet of clearance.
  _ All construction materials and debris are removed from the yard.
  _ You have checked to see if open burning is allowed in your area; if so, you have obtained      a burning permit.

5. Emergency Water Supply
  _ An emergency water supply is established and maintained that meets fire department      standards.
  _ All emergency water sources are clearly marked and visible.
  _ Firefighter access is readily available to your closest emergency water source.
  _ If you have a water well, an emergency generator is available to operate the pump in the      event of a power failure.

6. Access
  _ At least two exit routes from your neighborhood are identified.
  _ Roads allow two-way traffic.
  _ Road width, grade and curves are designed to allow access for large emergency vehicles.
  _ Driveways are constructed to allow large emergency equipment to reach your house.
  _ Bridges are designed to carry heavy emergency vehicles, including bulldozers carried on      large trucks.
  _ Road signs are clearly posted to show traffic restrictions such as dead-end roads, and      weight and height limitations.
  _ Dead-end roads and long driveways have turnaround areas wide enough for emergency      vehicles.
  _ Turnouts are constructed along one-way roads.
  _ Flammable vegetation is cleared at least 10 feet from roads and five feet from driveways.
  _ Overhanging tree branches above roads and driveways are removed.
  _ Fire barriers, such as greenbelts, parks, golf courses and athletic fields are in place.
  _ Streets are named or numbered, and signs are visibly posted at each street intersection.
  _ House address is readily visible and readable at the beginning of the driveway, or on the      house if easily visible from the road.

7. Outside
  _ An emergency outside meeting place has been designated.
  _ Emergency exit drills are practiced regularly.
  _ Electric service lines, fuse boxes and circuit breaker panels are installed and maintained as      prescribed by code.

This checksheet is based on and draws heavily from a publication produced by the Colorado State Forest Service. FIREWISE is a multi-agency program that encourages the development of defensible space and the prevention of catastrophic wildfire.

Arizona FIREWISE Communities Cooperators

University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Arizona State Land Department, Arizona Fire Chiefs Association, Arizona Fire Districts Association, Arizona Emergency Services Association, Arizona Planning Association, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona.

The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to sex, religion, color, national origin, age, Vietnam era Veteran’s status, or disability.

Any products, services, or organizations that are mentioned, shown, or indirectly implied in this publication do not imply endorsement by The University of Arizona.