Survival Blog - Could your home burn?

Survival Blog

Could your home burn down?

If you live in a dry area, chances are there has been some sort of history of wildfires. Though where you live might not be at risk for a hurricane or tornado, wildfires can be a present danger in almost any environment. No matter where you live, you should be prepared for a wildfire.

How do you prepare for something that can practically devour your home whole? It’s hard to start, but here’s a list of things that you should keep in mind to be prepared for a wildfire disaster.

1)      First, if you see or suspect a wildfire, you should report it. Fires that cause the most damage are almost always caused by a person. The fire department needs to know where and how the fire was started, and if you can be the one to help them, their jobs will be a lot easier.

2)      If somehow your house is affected by the fire, make it easy for fire trucks to assist. A giant fire truck won’t be much help if ten cars are all jammed right in front of your house.

3)      Keep your kids educated – children aren’t just born knowing that lighting a match and throwing it at the curtains is dangerous. If your child knows the consequences, chances are he won’t be too willing to set the living room on fire. Also, make sure that your kids know what to do if there is fire – keep emergency numbers posted on the fridge, teach them how to use a fire extinguisher, and tell where to go if the house is in danger of catching fire.

4)      If you know that a wildfire is even close to your neighborhood, prepare your house! Dry brush and leaves are easy to catch fire, so make sure to get rid of anything on the ground that is easily flammable. If there’s a tree that has a branch extending right towards the roof, you may want to consider cutting that branch off. It could easily jump from the branch to your roof. If your rain gutters are cluttered with dry leaves and debris, a flying ember could start a fire right in the gutters.

5)      Know where all your fuels are stored! If you have gas tanks or propane tanks somewhere on your property, remove them at any sight of a fire to avoid an explosion.

6)      Have a smoke detector and sprinklers! Many people can die of just asphyxiation from the smoke. Your heavy sleeper of a teenage son won’t always wake up from the smoke – a fire alarm will make anyone jump out of bed.

7)      Have emergency water and food! When there are fires, everyone rushes to the grocery store to get cases of bottled water and non-perishable foods. Don’t be caught in the mess of a crowd – just have your own separate source of water and long-shelf life food in the garage or shed. That way, you can easily access it and be prepared if you need to evacuate.

8)      If you have pets, keep them all in one place!  You don’t need to leave your beloved dog behind. If you are threatened by a wild fire, keep all of the pets in one place, leashed and ready to go, just in case you have to make a quick evacuation.

9)      Have a fire resistant safe. Keep important documents inside, as well as personal items, like photo albums or family heirlooms.

10)   If they tell you to evacuate, don’t wait! Even before evacuation, have a suitcase packed with all of your emergency needs. Listen to the radio or watch the news. If your area needs to be evacuated, go immediately to a safe place until your area is announced as safe.