Prepare your home, your family, and your pets for wildfires. Long and short term drought, dry vegetation, and unpredictable fire behavior, along with increased human activity, combine for a potentially active fire year. Take these steps to stay safe:
- Stay informed on current and predicted conditions in your community, and when you are enjoying the outdoors.
- Develop a Disaster Plan with your family to prepare for what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency.
- Be Ready to evacuate. Each family member and pet should have a Go Bag – a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation. A Go Bag should be packed in a sturdy, easy-to-carry container such as a backpack or suitcase on wheels and should be easily accessible if you have to leave your home in a hurry. Make sure it is ready to go at all times of the year.
- Prepare your home by creating defensible space.
- Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel it.
- Trim tree branches away from your home. Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.
- Keep wood piles away from your home.
- Make sure your home address is visible from the roadway.