Ready For Unsteady

Ready For Unsteady logo – emergency preparedness for everyday life
Ready For Unsteady logo – emergency preparedness for everyday life

1

Forest Fire and Wildfire Preparedness

Wildfires can spread rapidly and unpredictably, threatening homes, communities, and air quality. Whether you live near wooded areas or travel through high-risk zones, understanding how to reduce fire risk, improve defensible space, and stay alert to changing conditions is essential for safety and resilience.

Short-Term Preparations

  • Create a defensible space: Clear leaves, twigs, and other flammable debris from within 30 feet of your home.
  • Trim trees and shrubs: Prune branches that hang over the roof or within 10 feet of the chimney.
  • Clean gutters and roof: Remove any flammable materials such as leaves or pine needles.
  • Store firewood safely: Keep firewood at least 30 feet away from your home and other structures.
  • Check your insurance coverage: Make sure your homeowners insurance covers fire damage. 
  • Take photos of all areas and valuables in your home, update backups regularly. Take new photos every few months, especially after expensive purchases (ex. new car)
  • Have an evacuation plan: . If you need to evacuate, have a place to stay and a way to contact your family. Develop an evacuation plan and practice it with your family.
  • Have a backup plan:  If your primary location is compromised, have a secondary in mind that’s further away.
  • Prepare an emergency kit: Include essential items like water, food, medications,  and a first-aid kit. During fire warnings, keep all important documents in a portable, fire-proof container and ensure it’s easily accessible in the event of evacuation.
  • Stay informed: Monitor weather conditions and local news for fire warnings and evacuation orders.  Sign up for emergency alerts and take them seriously.

Long-Term Preparations

  • Have an evacuation plan: . If you need to evacuate, have a place to stay and a way to contact your family. Develop an evacuation plan and practice it with your family.
  • Have a backup plan:  If your primary location is compromised, have a secondary in mind that’s further away.
  • Prepare an emergency kit: Include essential items like water, food, medications,  and a first-aid kit. During fire warnings, keep all important documents in a portable, fire-proof container and ensure it’s easily accessible in the event of evacuation.
  • Stay informed: Monitor weather conditions and local news for fire warnings and evacuation orders.  Sign up for emergency alerts and take them seriously.
  • Know Your Local Fire Department’s Procedures: Understand their response plan and any specific guidelines they have for homeowners in fire-prone areas. 
  • Participate in community fire prevention programs: Get involved in local efforts to reduce fire risk. 

During a Forest Fire or Wildfire

  • Keep vehicles fueled and facing out for quick escape.
  • Know multiple evacuation routes.
  • Dress for Safety: Wear long pants, long sleeves, sturdy shoes, and a mask or bandana to protect against smoke and embers.
  • Load Pets Early: Have pet carriers, leashes, food, and medical records ready. Load pets into your vehicle early to avoid scrambling later.
  • Communicate Your Plan: Let an out-of-area contact know your intended route and destination.
  • Shut all windows, vents and doors, but leave them unlocked for firefighters.
  • Move flammable furniture away from windows.
  • Shut off gas and electric at the meter; turn off propane tanks.
  • Leave Notes or Mark Home: If you evacuate before official orders, leave a visible note on your door indicating when and where you left. This helps first responders.
  • Monitor multiple sources for updates (radio, social media, official apps).
  • Have a battery-powered/hand-crank radio.
  • Follow Local Agencies on Scanner Apps: Apps like Broadcastify or Scanner Radio let you listen to real-time public safety radio channels.
  • Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Ensure these alerts are turned on in your phone settings to receive government-issued evacuation and weather warnings.
  • Heat-Resistant Gloves: Protect your hands when handling hot surfaces, embers, or clearing debris.
  • Sturdy, Closed-Toe Boots: Preferably leather or heat-resistant to protect against sharp debris and embers—avoid mesh or synthetic materials that can melt.
  • Fire-Resistant Blanket: Keep one in your go-bag or vehicle to use as emergency shelter or protection if trapped by fire.
  • Helmet or Hard Hat: Useful in areas with falling debris, especially during evacuation through wooded or damaged areas.
  • High-Visibility Vest: Helps make you visible in smoky, low-light conditions—especially important for roadside evacuation or night movement.
    Respiratory
  • Protection Beyond N95s: In high-smoke areas or for sensitive individuals, consider P100 respirators or half-face respirators with particulate filters for better protection.
  • Wet Bandana or Cloth (Backup): Not ideal for fine particles, but better than nothing if N95s run out.

After a Forest or Wildfire

  • Wait for official clearance before returning.
  • Watch for hazards: downed power lines, hot spots, unstable structures.
  • Wear Protective Gear: Use gloves, boots, long sleeves, and an N95 mask to protect against ash, soot, and debris.
  • Check for Structural Damage: Inspect your roof, walls, and foundation from a distance before entering. Watch for sagging ceilings or buckled floors.
  • Use Caution with Utilities: Do not turn gas, electricity, or water back on until they’ve been inspected. Call utility companies if lines or meters appear damaged.
  • Ventilate the Space: Open windows and doors to air out smoke and chemical fumes before staying inside.
  • Check for Hidden Hot Spots: Embers may still smolder in vegetation, decking, or attics—use caution and water them down if needed.
  • Wear masks to avoid inhaling ash and dust.
  • Handle Ash Safely: Avoid sweeping or vacuuming dry ash. Dampen it first to prevent it from becoming airborne.
  • Inspect Food and Water Supplies: Discard any food, drinks, or medicines exposed to heat, smoke, or chemicals—even if sealed.
  • Avoid drinking tap water until authorities confirm it’s safe.
  • Give Yourself Permission to Grieve: It’s normal to feel sadness, anger, guilt, or numbness—especially after loss or displacement.
  • Stick to a Routine: Re-establishing simple daily routines like meals, sleep, and chores can provide a sense of stability and control.
  • Limit Media Exposure: Avoid constant news updates or disaster coverage, which can increase anxiety and delay emotional healing.
  • Talk About It (When You’re Ready): Sharing your experience with trusted friends, family, or support groups can help process the trauma.
  • Use Calming Techniques: Practice deep breathing, meditation, journaling, or grounding exercises to manage stress.
  • Involve Children in Recovery: Let kids help with small, age-appropriate tasks. Answer questions honestly but reassuringly to help them feel involved and safe.
  • Recognize Signs of Trauma: Watch for trouble sleeping, appetite changes, withdrawal, or irritability in yourself or others—these may signal a need for professional support.
  • Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge progress, even if it’s just cleaning a room or helping a neighbor—rebuilding takes time, and every step counts.
  • Create a Photo Inventory: Take wide and close-up shots of all damaged areas—inside and out. Don’t forget ceilings, flooring, and personal items.
  • Use Video Walkthroughs: A video tour with narration can capture more detail and show the extent of damage in context.
  • Save Receipts: Keep physical or digital copies of all expenses related to evacuation, temporary lodging, repairs, cleaning, and supplies.
  • Log Communications: Keep a written record of calls or emails with insurance companies, FEMA, contractors, or utility providers—note dates, times, and who you spoke with.
  • Backup Digitally: Upload all photos, receipts, and documentation to a cloud service (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) so nothing is lost if devices are damaged or lost.
  • Track Lost Items: Make a list of belongings lost in the fire, including estimated value and purchase dates if possible. This helps with claims and replacing essentials.
  • Be Alert for Displaced Wildlife: Animals may enter neighborhoods, RV parks, or campsites in search of food, water, or shelter.
  • Do Not Approach: Keep your distance from any wildlife, even if they appear injured or passive—they may be disoriented, scared, or aggressive.
  • Secure Trash and Food: Store garbage, pet food, and human food in sealed containers to avoid attracting animals.
  • Keep Pets Indoors or Leashed: Displaced predators (like coyotes or bears) may be more active and pose a risk to pets.
  • Check Before Entering Structures: Animals may seek shelter in garages, sheds, or under RVs. Use caution when opening doors or moving debris.
  • Report Sightings: Notify local animal control or wildlife agencies if you encounter injured or potentially dangerous animals.
  • Avoid Leaving Water Dishes Too Close: While it’s helpful to offer water, it can draw in wildlife—place dishes in areas a good distance from your home.