If you live in a heavily wooded area, it doesn't take much for a fire to spread from treetop to treetop. Long before the emergency evacuation crew knocks at your door, here are a few things you can do to protect your family and your belongings:
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. Fires can bring down trees, but a wind storm can do the same thing.
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.
Only you can prevent forest fires: Close to 50% of wild fires are caused by human carelessness. It just takes one spark to start a huge tragic fire, cause by a controlled burns that gets out of hand, campfires that are carelessly left, or still burning cigarette butts.
Camp fires are not a good idea when the forest is bone-dry, and smoking is never a good idea. It's shocking, but some people throw burning cigarettes from their vehicle even today, don't be one of those people. Dry grass can easily catch fire from a smouldering 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. Fire resistant shingles, a spark arrestor on your chimney, and tempered glass windows go a long way to help prevent disaster. Taking these steps may even reduce your home insurance rate.
Have an evacuation plan ready. Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do. And do keep an emergency kit on hand. This should include non-perishable foods and at least a three-day supply of drinking water. You should also include a first-aid kit, a flashlight and batteries, and a portable radio.
Fill any large containers, such as pools, hot tubs, or garbage cans with water to slow down an approaching fire. If an official evacuation order is handed down, don't take chances, leave the home immediately 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.
And of course, call 911 if you see any sign of a wildfire.
Make sure you have the right home insurance. If the worst happens, and a wildfire strikes in your area, don't be caught without enough coverage to rebuild your home!
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. Fires can bring down trees, but a wind storm can do the same thing.
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.
Only you can prevent forest fires: Close to 50% of wild fires are caused by human carelessness. It just takes one spark to start a huge tragic fire, cause by a controlled burns that gets out of hand, campfires that are carelessly left, or still burning cigarette butts.
Camp fires are not a good idea when the forest is bone-dry, and smoking is never a good idea. It's shocking, but some people throw burning cigarettes from their vehicle even today, don't be one of those people. Dry grass can easily catch fire from a smouldering 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. Fire resistant shingles, a spark arrestor on your chimney, and tempered glass windows go a long way to help prevent disaster. Taking these steps may even reduce your home insurance rate.
Have an evacuation plan ready. Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do. And do keep an emergency kit on hand. This should include non-perishable foods and at least a three-day supply of drinking water. You should also include a first-aid kit, a flashlight and batteries, and a portable radio.
Fill any large containers, such as pools, hot tubs, or garbage cans with water to slow down an approaching fire. If an official evacuation order is handed down, don't take chances, leave the home immediately 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.
And of course, call 911 if you see any sign of a wildfire.
Make sure you have the right home insurance. If the worst happens, and a wildfire strikes in your area, don't be caught without enough coverage to rebuild your home!
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