Forest Fires & Wildfires

After a Forest or Wildfire

Re-Enter Safely

• 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.

Health Precautions

• 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.

Emotional Support

• 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.

Documentation

• 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.

Wildlife Encounters

• 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.

Official Wildfire Resources

For current conditions and official safety guidance, use trusted local, state, and national sources. These resources can help you track wildfire smoke, understand fire weather alerts, prepare your home, and recover safely after a wildfire.

• AirNow Fire and Smoke Map Check current wildfire smoke, air quality, and fine particle pollution near you.
• National Weather Service Wildfire Warnings Learn the difference between a Fire Weather Watch, Red Flag Warning, and extreme fire behavior.
• NFPA Wildfire Home Preparation Use home ignition zone guidance to reduce wildfire risk around your house.
• IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Review science-based steps for reducing ember and wildfire damage to your home.
• Ready.gov Wildfire Preparedness Find federal guidance for preparing before, staying safe during, and recovering after wildfires.
• CDC After-Wildfire Safety Guidelines Learn how to return home safely, protect yourself from ash, and reduce health risks after a fire.
• EPA Clean Room Guidance Set up a cleaner-air room inside your home during wildfire smoke events.
• New York State DEC Fire Danger Map For New York readers, check current fire danger levels across the state.

Wildfire Preparedness FAQs

These quick answers cover common wildfire preparedness questions, including evacuation planning, smoke safety, home protection, and what to do after a wildfire.

What should I do first to prepare for a wildfire?

Start with alerts, evacuation routes, and go-bag basics. Sign up for local emergency alerts, identify at least two ways out of your neighborhood, keep important documents easy to grab, and prepare supplies for people, pets, medications, and basic needs if you have to leave quickly.

How can I protect my home from wildfire risk?

Focus closest to the home first. Clear dry leaves, pine needles, mulch, firewood, patio cushions, and other flammable items away from siding, decks, vents, windows, and doors. Clean gutters, trim branches away from the roof, and keep the area around your home as clear of combustible material as possible.

What is a Red Flag Warning?

A Red Flag Warning means weather conditions could support rapid fire growth or dangerous wildfire behavior. During a Red Flag Warning, avoid outdoor burning, campfires, fireworks, equipment that can throw sparks, or anything else that could ignite dry grass, leaves, or brush.

How do I protect myself from wildfire smoke?

Check current air quality, keep windows and doors closed when outdoor air is unhealthy, use a portable air cleaner if available, and reduce indoor particles from candles, smoking, frying, or unnecessary vacuuming. During heavy smoke, a properly fitted N95, P100, or respirator with particulate filters is more protective than a cloth face covering.

Should I evacuate before an official order?

If you feel unsafe, have limited mobility, need extra time for children or pets, or see conditions changing quickly, it may be safer to leave early. Do not wait if local officials tell you to evacuate. Roads can become crowded or blocked, and leaving early can reduce pressure on emergency responders.

When is it safe to return home after a wildfire?

Return only when local officials say it is safe. Watch for hot spots, damaged trees, unstable structures, ash, contaminated water, downed power lines, and poor air quality. Wear protective clothing, document damage before cleanup, and avoid using food, medicine, or water that may have been exposed to heat, smoke, ash, or chemicals.