The spreading of fire from one tree to another happens in almost no time when the forest is thick. Taking some of these precautions will keep you and your family safer, as well as your home, before the evacuation crews order you to leave:
A getaway bag will help: Keep some of your most important belongings in a bag near the front door, so that you can grab it and go if you need to evacuate quickly. This will also make any temporarily away family members feel better, since you can protect their most valued items. Things for the bag would be your important documents, or copies of them, and any prescription medications that you or your family require. Nice-to-haves include toiletries, electronics, etc.
Your data: Invest in an external hard drive and program your computer to do automatic back-ups so you can spend a bit more time grabbing photos and other irreplaceable items when you are forced to leave your home.
Don't forget dangers from above: Overhead power lines could be attached to your home, so keep them free of any debris or vegetation and be sure trees are not near to them. Trees fall down, not only in fires, but in wind storms as well.
Create a zone of protection: If you can ensure the area within 10 metres of your home is free of trees, flammable vegetation and other combustibles, you'll go a long way towards protecting your home.
Prevention is best: People who are not careful are the cause of half of the wild fires each year. Whether it's a campfire that isn't completely out, or a controlled burn that gets out of control or a cigarette thrown from a window, a single spark can trigger a massive disaster.
Don't build camp fires when the weather's been dry, and never smoke in fire hazard areas. Never discard of a burning cigarette our of your car window. Dry vegetation on the side of the road can catch fire quite quickly from an still burning cigarette butt.
If there is any extra vegetation near your house, clear it away. Be certain to choose fireproof building materials when building a home, if you can. This could include fire resistant shingles, tempered glass windows, a spark arrestor on your chimney. Not only do these things keep you safer, they will likely end up saving you money on your home insurance.
A prepared evacuation plan is essential. Go over it with everyone in your household so that they are prepared. Have an emergency kit prepared as well. The kit must have a minimum of 3 days drinking water, and some foods that are non-perishable. Other helpful items include a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
Fill any large containers, such as pools, hot tubs, or garbage cans with water to slow down an approaching fire. When evacuation is ordered by an authority, take it seriously and evacuate right away. It's always a good idea to make sure your house numbers are visible, and preferably made of fireproof materials. Firefighters will find your house much more quickly if you take that precaution.
Call 911 immediately if you see any signs that a wildfire is forming.
Make sure you have the right home insurance. A wildfire could strike at any time, so be sure that your home insurance is adequate, so that if a tragedy occurs and your home is lost, you can have it rebuilt without losing everything.
A getaway bag will help: Keep some of your most important belongings in a bag near the front door, so that you can grab it and go if you need to evacuate quickly. This will also make any temporarily away family members feel better, since you can protect their most valued items. Things for the bag would be your important documents, or copies of them, and any prescription medications that you or your family require. Nice-to-haves include toiletries, electronics, etc.
Your data: Invest in an external hard drive and program your computer to do automatic back-ups so you can spend a bit more time grabbing photos and other irreplaceable items when you are forced to leave your home.
Don't forget dangers from above: Overhead power lines could be attached to your home, so keep them free of any debris or vegetation and be sure trees are not near to them. Trees fall down, not only in fires, but in wind storms as well.
Create a zone of protection: If you can ensure the area within 10 metres of your home is free of trees, flammable vegetation and other combustibles, you'll go a long way towards protecting your home.
Prevention is best: People who are not careful are the cause of half of the wild fires each year. Whether it's a campfire that isn't completely out, or a controlled burn that gets out of control or a cigarette thrown from a window, a single spark can trigger a massive disaster.
Don't build camp fires when the weather's been dry, and never smoke in fire hazard areas. Never discard of a burning cigarette our of your car window. Dry vegetation on the side of the road can catch fire quite quickly from an still burning cigarette butt.
If there is any extra vegetation near your house, clear it away. Be certain to choose fireproof building materials when building a home, if you can. This could include fire resistant shingles, tempered glass windows, a spark arrestor on your chimney. Not only do these things keep you safer, they will likely end up saving you money on your home insurance.
A prepared evacuation plan is essential. Go over it with everyone in your household so that they are prepared. Have an emergency kit prepared as well. The kit must have a minimum of 3 days drinking water, and some foods that are non-perishable. Other helpful items include a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
Fill any large containers, such as pools, hot tubs, or garbage cans with water to slow down an approaching fire. When evacuation is ordered by an authority, take it seriously and evacuate right away. It's always a good idea to make sure your house numbers are visible, and preferably made of fireproof materials. Firefighters will find your house much more quickly if you take that precaution.
Call 911 immediately if you see any signs that a wildfire is forming.
Make sure you have the right home insurance. A wildfire could strike at any time, so be sure that your home insurance is adequate, so that if a tragedy occurs and your home is lost, you can have it rebuilt without losing everything.
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