Wildfire Preparedness

Build an Emergency Evacuation Kit, which includes items like non-perishable food, water, a battery powered or hand crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries.  You may want to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car.  The kit should include:

Copies of prescription medications; Cell Phone chargers; Bedding/clothing, including sleeping bags & pillows;  Bottled water; battery operated radio/extra batteries; first-aid kit; flashlight; Copies of important documents, like your drivers license, SS card, PROOF OF RESIDENCY, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, etc.; Pre-pack non-replaceable, personal items that you can quickly move to a vehicle if you are instructed to evacuate.

PREPARE YOUR HOME
Protect your property from wildfires by designing and landscaping your home with wildfire safety
in mind.
Select materials and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel it.
Use fire resistant or non-combustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of the dwelling.
Treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking or trim with UL-approved fire retardant chemicals.
Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine,
evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees.
Regularly clean roof and gutters.
Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them at least once a year. Keep the dampers in good
working order. Equip chimneys and stovepipes with a spark arrester that meets the requirements of
National Fire Protection Association Code 211. (Contact your local fire department for exact
specifications.)
Use 1/2-inch mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas and the home itself. Also, screen
openings to floors, roof and attic.
Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test monthly and
change the batteries at least once each year.
Keep a ladder that will reach the roof.
Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes.
Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe, handsaw or chainsaw,
bucket and shovel.
Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other structures on the
property.
Install freeze-proof exterior water outlets on at least two sides of the home and near other
structures on the property. Install additional outlets at least 50 feet from the home.
Consider obtaining a portable gasoline-powered generator in case electrical power is cut off.

Create a 30- to 100-Foot Safety Zone Around Your Home:

• Within this area, you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant heat.
• Homes built in pine forests should have a minimum safety zone of 100 feet. If your home
  sits on a steep slope, standard protective measures may not suffice. Contact your local fire
  department or forestry of fire for additional information.
• Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation.
• Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures and dispose of them properly.
• Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns, and remove limbs within 15 feet of the ground.
• Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.
• Prune tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.
• Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.
• Clear a 10-foot area around propane tanks and the barbecue. Place a screen over the grill—
  use non-flammable material with mesh no coarser than one-quarter inch
• Regularly dispose of newspapers and rubbish at an approved site. Follow local burning
  regulations.
• Place stove, fireplace and grill ashes in a metal bucket, soak in water for two days, then
  bury the cold ashes in mineral soil.
• Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved safety cans. Place cans
  in a safe location away from the base of buildings.
• Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Clear combustible material within 20 feet. Use only UL-approved wood-burning devices.

MAKE A PLAN!

Talk to your family, make a plan!  Decide where to meet, where to stay, where you are going.  If you do not have a car, make a plan ahead of time…ask a friend or a neighbor ahead of time, if you can ride off the hill with them.   If you have a car, keep 1/2 tank of gas in it at all times.  If the power goes out, the stations can’t pump gas…not without a generator.

MAKE A PLAN FOR YOUR PETS.

PETS

• Plan ahead. Know where you will take or leave your pets. In case you are not home when disaster strikes, arrange in advance for a neighbor to check on or transport your pets. Make sure your neighbors have your contact numbers (cell phone, work, home, etc.). In the event of evacuation pets may not be allowed inside human emergency shelters – have an alternate prearranged location to take your animals.
• Make sure your pets are always wearing properly fitted collars with personal identification, rabies and license tags.
• Each animal should have it’s own pet carrier. Birds, rodents and reptiles should be transported in cages. Cover cages with a light sheet or cloth to minimize their fear.
• Store vaccination/medical records, veterinary contact information, proof of owner- ship, a current photo, and a Disaster Preparedness Kit in one location.

Pet Disaster Preparedness Kit

• Pet carrier for each pet
• Two week supply of food and water
• Non-spill food and water bowls
• Pet first-aid kit
• Medications and dosing instructions
• Car litter box and litter
• Plastic bags for waste disposal
• Paper towels
• Disinfectants
• Leashes/collars/harnesses
• Blankets
• Toys and treats
• Newspaper

IF YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR PET

• If you must leave your pets, bring them indoors. Never leave pets chained outdoors!
• Use a room with no windows and adequate ventilation, such as a utility room, garage, bathroom, or other area that can be easily cleaned. Do not tie pets up!
• Leave only dry foods and fresh water in non-spill containers. If possible open a faucet to let water drip into a large container or partially fill a bathtub with water.