Evacuation

Wildfire events can be swift. They can occur during the day while you are at work or at night while you and your family are sleeping. And there can be very little warning. Wildfires can move at incredible speeds, often generating their own weather. High winds, heat, dense smoke, and flying sparks and embers are all common during a wildfire. And then there is the noise, which in and of itself can be completely unnerving and causes panic in many.

Homeowners living in the wildland/urban interface need to be prepared to evacuate themselves, their pets, and their livestock in the event of a wildfire disaster. Planning is key to a successful evacuation. Planning also decreases stress and confusion in what is a very frightening situation. Making a Plan will help you ready yourself and your family as well as your pets for evacuation.

If you are lucky you will have ample warning about an approaching wildfire. Local authorities may give you an evacuation notice and say you have a half of an hour. Or you may have no warning at all. In the Event of a Wildfire provides you with checklists to get you, your family, and your pets and livestock out safely.

The key to successful evacuations is that landowners leave early. Sixty percent of lives lost to wildland fire are of those that chose to stay and wait and see, and then evacuated too late.

Many people have died in wildfires because they waited too long to evacuate and became trapped either in their homes, on their properties, or in their cars. If You Get Trapped gives some suggestions of what you can do if you were unable to evacuate in time and become trapped in your home or car.

Caution should also be used when returning home after a wildfire. Hazards, as well as emotions, can be high.