Morgan Rogue 01.09.25
Wildfires are becoming more dangerous due to climate change, drought, and human activity. Wildfires can move swiftly and have enormous potential to harm property and people. Wildfires can happen anywhere and for any reason; fire can even smolder underneath snow and become active again once the snow melts.
As unlikely as a wildfire may seem in your area, we need to remember that anything is possible, and we must be prepared to mitigate risk if you ever face a wildfire.
Understanding Wildfires
Wildfires are nature’s most unpredictable force, capable of turning a calm landscape into an inferno in mere moments. Whether ignited by a stray lightning strike or a careless spark, these fast-moving fires thrive in dry climates and windy conditions, leaving devastation in their wake. As wildfires grow more frequent and intense, understanding their causes, risks, and impacts has never been more urgent.
What is a wildfire? A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that spreads rapidly. It can start from natural causes, such as lightning or the wind blowing over a powerline, or human activities, such as sparks from a campfire or discarded cigarettes.
Common wildfire-prone areas and seasons: Regions with dry climates, such as California and Australia, are particularly prone to wildfires. However, wildfires can happen anywhere, especially during the hottest and driest months.
Why urgency matters: Wildfires move quickly without hesitation and can be exaggerated by winds. It can destroy land and property within hours. Wildfires have increased in frequency over the years, making preparation more critical than ever.
Creating a Wildfire Emergency Plan
Wildfires can start suddenly and spread fast, giving you little time to react. Without a plan, it’s easy to feel panicked or confused during an emergency. A wildfire emergency plan helps you stay safe, protect your family, and save precious time when every second counts. Preparing now means you’ll be ready when it matters most.
Steps to create a family evacuation plan
- Designate evacuation routes: Identify multiple evacuation routes in case roads are blocked.
- Choose a meeting point: Pick several safe locations to meet and hold up for hours, days, or weeks. It could be in a nearby town or with family or friends. Pick several locations just in case one of them isn’t available.
- Identify emergency contacts: Make sure every family member knows how to reach a designated out-of-area contact. Those contacts could be a friend or family member who you can call to report the situation and your safety. Having alternative communication options such as walkie-talkies, ham radios, or GMRS is also helpful to stay connected and to hear of the latest weather and news updates.
- Help Kids Understand Wildfire Preparedness: Get the whole household involved in planning, including children. This video can help them understand and prepare them:
Prepare emergency kits
Your kit(s) should include items like:
- Water (one gallon per person per day is a good starting point)
- Non-perishable food (don’t forget about food for your pets)
- First-aid supplies and Medications (especially critical personal prescriptions)
- Essential documents (IDs, insurance papers)
- Flashlights/headlamps, batteries, and a portable battery phone charger
- Gas mask or respirator
- Food, water, and toys for the kids
- Crates, beds, collars, and leashes for pets
- Extra clothes, formula, blankets, bottles, and toys for babies
Every household member should have an emergency kit. The items above should go in easily transportable containers such as backpacks, travel suitcases, or 5-gallon buckets (like the infamous orange Home Depot buckets). It is preferable to choose containers you can easily manage on foot in case you have to abandon your vehicle; 5-gallon buckets might quickly become the bane of your existence.
When you hear of a potential wildfire nearby, those emergency kits should be placed by the door (or however you will exit your home) for immediate access in case you need to leave.
Practice evacuation drills
Rehearse your plan every few months to ensure everyone knows what to do in a real emergency. If you have younger children, this can be a fun game. There is a reason hotels have evacuation plans and schools run “fire drills.”
Plans for locations you frequent
If your family spends time at an office, daycare, school, or other location, ensure those places also have emergency plans and supplies:
- Know where you’d meet if you can’t make it home,
- Have preplanned routes you’d take from those locations to reach the alternative destination,
- Carry an emergency kit in your car (which you should have anyway).
To better help you plan your evacuation strategy, follow the 6 P’s of Evacuation
- People & pets
- Papers, phone numbers & important documents
- Prescriptions, vitamins & eyeglasses
- Pictures & irreplaceable memorabilia
- Personal computer, hard drive & disks
- “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) & cash
Remember, your life is the most important asset. Stuff can be replaced. While it is devastating to lose your home and precious memories, stuff can be replaced; you and your loved ones cannot. You don’t have to wait for emergency services to tell you to leave; if you feel you need to go long before being told to evacuate, leave.
Preparing Your Home for Wildfires
Wildfires can happen quickly and destroy everything in their path. Preparing your home ahead of time can make it safer and reduce the risk of damage. Simple steps like clearing dry plants, keeping roofs and gutters clean, and using fire-resistant materials can make a big difference. Protecting your home now can help keep your family and property safe if a wildfire strikes.
Conduct a home risk assessment
You can mitigate risk to your home by walking your property to identify hazards and address them as needed.
- Remove dead vegetation, leaves, and debris within 30-100 feet of your home:
Take it from one of our Structure Protection Specialists: If your home is threatened by wildfire one of the best things you can do to prepare your home is to move combustible items into or away from buildings.
For more tips on being resilient to wildfires: https://t.co/5JsROVQwOh pic.twitter.com/RHRYsuRUL8— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 23, 2024
- Ensure tree branches are at least 10 feet away from your roof.
- Use fire-resistant materials for roofing and siding.
- Install mesh screens on vents to prevent embers from entering.
- Seal gaps around windows and doors to keep smoke and heat out.
- Consider investing in an air purifier for your home (get one rated for the size of your home).
Do a periodic home walkthrough with your phone and video everything, capturing anything valuable. It will make it a lot easier to file insurance claims later. Speaking of, review your insurance policies. Make sure your insurance is up to date if you live in an area that is prone to wildfires. You should be aware that legislation in some areas is putting people’s properties at risk:
Prepare for news stories about “evil insurers” that don’t tell the whole story.
Proposition 103 in California makes it illegal to accurately price fire insurance. Insurers can only use historical data, not projections.
So insurers did the rational thing: they dropped customers pic.twitter.com/QBXZa6klBn
— Jeremy Kauffman 🦔🌲🌕 (@jeremykauffman) January 8, 2025
Staying Informed During Wildfire Season
Stay updated on local weather and fire alerts through local news, government websites, and emergency services. Cell or internet service may not be available, so it’s recommended to have a radio. Make sure you know how to use the radio well beforehand so you can get local news and weather.
HAPPENING NOW: The Eaton Fire is approaching communication towers which service local media outlets throughout Southern California.
The towers located on top of Mount Wilson are also used by law enforcement.
“It is really important for radio transmissions in Southern California… pic.twitter.com/A2Ect1LJBq
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 9, 2025
A battery-operated radio, like a NOAA weather radio, will give up-to-date critical alerts.
Understand fire warnings
- Fire Weather Watch: Conditions may lead to wildfires
- Red Flag Warning: Wildfire conditions are imminent or occurring
- Evacuation Orders: Mandatory orders to leave your area immediately
Download apps like FEMA, Red Cross Emergency, or local alert systems for real-time updates.
What to Do If a Wildfire Approaches
You should do several things as soon as you hear that a wildfire is approaching your location.
Immediate actions to take
- Turn off gas and propane.
- Move flammable items like patio furniture away from your house.
- Close all windows and doors to mitigate embers or smoke from entering.
- Move your emergency gear near the main exit.
When to evacuate
You don’t need to wait for local authorities to tell you to leave. If you need to leave sooner than you are advised to, please leave. Trust your instincts. You can also follow local authority guidance. Leaving early can also help you avoid getting stuck in traffic or competing with other evacuees for things like water and fuel.
In the recent fires in the Palisades, people who waited too long to leave panicked and abandoned their vehicles, causing a nightmare for the fire crews:
HAPPENING NOW: The Eaton Fire is approaching communication towers which service local media outlets throughout Southern California.
The towers located on top of Mount Wilson are also used by law enforcement.
“It is really important for radio transmissions in Southern California… pic.twitter.com/A2Ect1LJBq
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 9, 2025
Post-Wildfire Recovery Tips
After a wildfire, it’s time to focus on staying safe and starting the recovery process. The danger doesn’t always end when the fire is out—there can still be risks like hot spots, falling debris, or damaged utilities. Taking careful steps, like checking your home for damage and following safety advice, will help you and your family recover and rebuild safely.
Recovery is a huge part of natural disasters
- Local authorities will give the go-ahead that your area is clear. Once clear, you may return home.
- Check for structural damage before entering your house.
- Avoid areas with hazards like fallen power lines.
- Wear protective gear (like respirator masks and gloves) while cleaning soot and debris; residual materials from a fire can be toxic.
- Ventilate your home and test for smoke damage.
- Contact your insurance to cover any damages. To rebuild, seek assistance from FEMA, the Red Cross, or local community groups.
Understand that recovery can sometimes take a while. Have a plan in place in case you need to stay somewhere for an extended period during the recovery process; this is essential in case a wildfire damages or destroys your home. Even if your home is still livable, you might be prevented from accessing it due to surrounding conditions.
Conclusion
Wildfires are scary, unpredictable, and dangerous. Being prepared can make all the difference. By creating an emergency plan, preparing your home, and staying informed, you can protect your loved ones and stay safe. Start taking these steps today to get and stay prepared!
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