20 Preparations Steps for Your Home to Survive a Wildfire
Pre-evacuation Steps
When an evacuation is anticipated, follow these checklists (if time allows) to give your home the best chance of surviving a wildfire:
Outside the House
- Gather up flammable items from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, trash cans, etc.) or place them in your pool.
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Turn off propane tanks.
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Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures.
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Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around the house.
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Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running; they can affect critical water pressure.
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Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night.
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Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle.
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Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you.
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Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof.
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Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.
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Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened.
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Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave.
Inside The House
- Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked.
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Remove flammable window shades and curtains. Close metal shutters.
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Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.
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Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights.
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Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions.
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Shut off the air conditioning.
Animals
- Locate your pets and keep them nearby.
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Prepare farm animals, if any, for transport and think about moving them to a safe location early
Source: Ready for Wildfire
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