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.
Look up, look way up: If you have overhead power lines on your property, make sure they are clear of vegetation and well away from the nearest tree. 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.
Take steps to prevent fire: Around half of wild fires are actually the doing of a careless person. 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.
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.
Cut back vegetation around your home. 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. Your home insurance premiums can also be reduced by taking precautions like these.
Have an evacuation plan ready. Review the plans with your family in the household so they understand the procedure. You'll need to prepare an emergency kit. This should include non-perishable foods and at least a three-day supply of drinking water. Other helpful items include a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
You can slow down a fire that is coming your way by having containers like garbage cans filled with water, as well as a pool or hot tub. If an official evacuation order is handed down, don't take chances, leave the home immediately To make your home more simple to recognize, use address numbers that are fireproof. 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.
Go over your home insurance coverage to be sure that you are fully protected. You really don't want to be without protection if a wildfire was to destroy your home, so be sure that you're fully insured against that.
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.
Look up, look way up: If you have overhead power lines on your property, make sure they are clear of vegetation and well away from the nearest tree. 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.
Take steps to prevent fire: Around half of wild fires are actually the doing of a careless person. 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.
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.
Cut back vegetation around your home. 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. Your home insurance premiums can also be reduced by taking precautions like these.
Have an evacuation plan ready. Review the plans with your family in the household so they understand the procedure. You'll need to prepare an emergency kit. This should include non-perishable foods and at least a three-day supply of drinking water. Other helpful items include a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
You can slow down a fire that is coming your way by having containers like garbage cans filled with water, as well as a pool or hot tub. If an official evacuation order is handed down, don't take chances, leave the home immediately To make your home more simple to recognize, use address numbers that are fireproof. 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.
Go over your home insurance coverage to be sure that you are fully protected. You really don't want to be without protection if a wildfire was to destroy your home, so be sure that you're fully insured against that.
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