Last wildfire season the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming provided 38,100 meals, 39,000 overnight stays and 3,009 disaster health contacts to wildfire evacuees. “After back-to-back years of record-breaking wildfires, this year it’s more critical than ever to get ready now,” said Gino Greco, CEO, Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. “Last year brought not only the pandemic, but massive wildfires in the west that were responsible for 37 deaths and more than $19 billion in damages. Wildfires are dangerous and can spread quickly, giving you only minutes to evacuate. Protect your loved ones, get ready now.”
Right Before: As the Fire Approaches Your Home
If you do nothing else:
- Be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
- Listen to local radio and television stations for updated emergency information including your safest escape route.
- Check your emergency kit and replenish any items missing or in short supply, especially medications and medical supplies. Keep it in the car.
- Arrange for temporary housing at a friend or relative’s home outside the threatened area. Identify nearby shelter sites and know your routes to get there.
Then, if you can, do this…
- Back your car into the garage or park it outside in the direction of your evacuation route.
- Confine pets to one room so you can find them if you need to evacuate quickly.
- Limit exposure to smoke and dust: – Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in. – Do not use anything that burns and adds to indoor pollution such as candles, fire places and gas stoves.
- If you have asthma or another lung disease, follow your health care provider’s advice. Seek medical care if your symptoms worsen.
- Dress to protect yourself: wear cotton/woolen clothing including long sleeve shirts, long pants and gloves.
If you still have time…
- Shut off gas meter only if advised to do so by local officials.
- If you have a propane tank system, turn off the valves and leave them closed until the propane supplier inspects your system.
- Open fireplace dampers and close fireplace screens. Burning embers will not be “sucked down” into a home from the outside.
- Wet down your roof (if combustible).
- Close windows, vents, doors, blinds, or noncombustible window coverings, and heavy drapes. Remove lightweight drapes and curtains.
- Move combustible furniture into the center of your home away from windows and sliding-glass doors.
- Close all doors and windows inside your home to prevent draft.
- Place valuables that will not be damaged by water in a pool or pond.
- Place sprinklers up to 50 feet away from the structures to raise the moisture level of nearby vegetation.
- Seal attic and ground vents with precut plywood or commercial seals.
- Remove combustible items from around the home, lawn and poolside, such as furniture, umbrellas, tarp coverings and firewood.
- Connect the garden hose to outside taps.
- Gather fire tools (shovels, hoes and hoses) and make sure they’re easy to access.
- Be aware that water pressure will probably decrease due to heavy demand for firefighting. Water may not be available at all because electric pumps have failed or water reservoirs are drained.
These are good suggestions except for one very serious mistake. If there is a wildfire present, evacuate way ahead of it unless you are prepared to stay through the fire. A last minute evacuation is the most dangerous choice with hundreds of dead civilian statistics to prove it. Don’t let their tragedy go to waste. Learn from it. Stay and defend only if you are well trained and prepared or leave early. Australian citizens move into town on “red flag days” when there is no fire. That is what is meant when I say leave early.
With Respect
Ron Lindroth