Wild Fire Safety Checklist

WildFire ENG.qxd:Layout 1 5/21/09 5:28 PM Page 1

Be Red Cross Ready Wild Fire Safety Checklist More and more people are making their homes in woodland Supplies to take with you if you need to evacuate: settings, rural areas or remote • Water—one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply) • Food—non- mountain sites. There, residents perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply) • Flashlight • Battery- enjoy the beauty of the powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible) • Extra batteries • First aid kit • Medications (7-day supply) and medical environment but face the very items • Multi-purpose tool • Sanitation and personal hygiene items • real danger of wild fires. Wild Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical fires often begin unnoticed. They information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies) • spread quickly, igniting brush, Cell phone with chargers • Family and emergency contact information • trees and homes. In a wild fire, Extra cash • Emergency blanket • Map(s) of the area • Other essential items that could not be replaced if they were destroyed every second counts!

What should I do to prepare What should I do if there are Returning home after a ahead of time? reports of wild fires in my area? wild fire …

Ë Ë Ë Learn about wild fire risks in your area. Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Do not enter your home until fire Ë officials say it is safe. Ë Talk with members of your household Listen to local radio and television Ë about wild fires—how to prevent them stations for updated emergency Use caution when entering burned and what to do if one occurs. information. areas as hazards may still exist, Ë Ë including hot spots, which can flare up Post emergency phone numbers by Always back your car into the garage or without warning. every phone in your home. park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Ë Avoid damaged or fallen power lines, Ë Make sure driveway entrances and your Ë poles and downed wires. house number or address are clearly Confine pets to one room so that you Ë marked. can find them if you need to evacuate Watch for ash pits and mark them for quickly. safety—warn family and neighbors to Ë Identify and maintain an adequate Ë keep clear of the pits also. water source outside your home, such Arrange for temporary housing at a Ë as a small pond, cistern, well or friend or relative’s home outside the Watch animals closely and keep them swimming pool. threatened area. under your direct control. Hidden embers and hot spots could burn your Ë Limit exposure to smoke and dust. Set aside household items that can be pets’ paws or hooves. used as fire tools: a rake, ax, hand saw Ë Listen and watch for air quality reports Ë or chain saw, bucket and shovel. You may Follow public health guidance on safe and health warnings about smoke. need to fight small fires before emergency cleanup of fire ash and safe use of responders arrive. Ë Keep indoor air clean by closing masks. windows and doors to prevent outside Ë Ë Select building materials and plants that Wet debris down to minimize breathing smoke from getting in. resist fire. dust particles. Ë Use the recycle or re-circulate mode on Ë Ë Regularly clean roofs and gutters. Wear leather gloves and heavy soled the air conditioner in your home or car. shoes to protect hands and feet. Plan ahead and stay as safe as If you do not have air conditioning and Ë possible during a wild fire. it is too hot to stay inside with closed Cleaning products, paint, batteries and windows, seek shelter elsewhere. damaged fuel containers need to be Ë Plan and practice two ways out of your Ë disposed of properly to avoid risk. neighborhood in case your primary route When smoke levels are high, do not use is blocked. anything that burns and adds to indoor Ensure your food and water are safe. air pollution, such as candles, fireplaces Ë Ë Select a place for family members to and gas stoves. Do not vacuum because Discard any food that has been exposed to meet outside your neighborhood in case it stirs up particles that are already heat, smoke or soot. you cannot get home or need to inside your home. Ë evacuate. Do NOT ever use water that you think Ë may be contaminated to wash dishes, Ë If you have asthma or another lung Identify someone who is out of the area disease, follow your health care brush teeth, prepare food, wash hands, to contact if local phone lines are not provider's advice and seek medical care make ice or make baby formula. working. if your symptoms worsen.

Let Your Family Know You’re Safe If your community has experienced a wild fire, or any disaster, register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well Web site available through RedCross.org to let your family and friends know about your welfare. If you don’t have Internet access, call 1-866-GET- INFO to register yourself and your family.