If you live in a heavily wooded area, it doesn't take much for a fire to spread from treetop to treetop. People are evacuated when this happens, but there are some steps that you can take to protect your home and family before an evacuation order:
Have a getaway bag prepared: You may not get a lot of time, so having a gym bag packed with essentials in the front hall closet will ensure you have what you need. This will also make any temporarily away family members feel better, since you can protect their most valued items. Copies of your important documents, and life saving prescription drugs should be included in your bag. It would make this tough time easier if you have toiletries and electronics ready to go as well.
Data: It would be wise for you to automatically back up your data on an external hard drive, so that you don't find yourself trying to unplug your desktop and lug it with you while running out the door.
Don't forget dangers from above: Overhead power lines could be attached to your home, so keep them free of any debris or vegetation and be sure trees are not near to them. Fires can bring down trees, but a wind storm can do the same thing.
Create a zone of protection: If you can ensure the area within 10 metres of your home is free of trees, flammable vegetation and other combustibles, you'll go a long way towards protecting your home.
Prevention is best: People who are not careful are the cause of half of the wild fires each year. It just takes one spark to start a huge tragic fire, cause by a controlled burns that gets out of hand, campfires that are carelessly left, or still burning cigarette butts.
Camp fires are not a good idea when the forest is bone-dry, and smoking is never a good idea. It's shocking, but some people throw burning cigarettes from their vehicle even today, don't be one of those people. Cigarettes can cause a fire in the grass as it smoulders away.
If there is any extra vegetation near your house, clear it away. And try to use fireproof materials in the construction of your home, whenever possible. Some ways to do this are to install tempered glass windows, a spark arrestor on the chimney, and fire resistant shingles. Not only do these things keep you safer, they will likely end up saving you money on your home insurance.
A prepared evacuation plan is essential. Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do. And do keep an emergency kit on hand. Include 3 days worth of drinking water, and an assortment of non-perishable food items. Other helpful items include a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
Fill any large containers, such as pools, hot tubs, or garbage cans with water to slow down an approaching fire. When evacuation is ordered by an authority, take it seriously and evacuate right away. To make your home more simple to recognize, use address numbers that are fireproof. This will help firefighters locate your home quickly.
And of course, call 911 if you see any sign of a wildfire.
Make sure you have the right home insurance. If the worst happens, and a wildfire strikes in your area, don't be caught without enough coverage to rebuild your home!
Have a getaway bag prepared: You may not get a lot of time, so having a gym bag packed with essentials in the front hall closet will ensure you have what you need. This will also make any temporarily away family members feel better, since you can protect their most valued items. Copies of your important documents, and life saving prescription drugs should be included in your bag. It would make this tough time easier if you have toiletries and electronics ready to go as well.
Data: It would be wise for you to automatically back up your data on an external hard drive, so that you don't find yourself trying to unplug your desktop and lug it with you while running out the door.
Don't forget dangers from above: Overhead power lines could be attached to your home, so keep them free of any debris or vegetation and be sure trees are not near to them. Fires can bring down trees, but a wind storm can do the same thing.
Create a zone of protection: If you can ensure the area within 10 metres of your home is free of trees, flammable vegetation and other combustibles, you'll go a long way towards protecting your home.
Prevention is best: People who are not careful are the cause of half of the wild fires each year. It just takes one spark to start a huge tragic fire, cause by a controlled burns that gets out of hand, campfires that are carelessly left, or still burning cigarette butts.
Camp fires are not a good idea when the forest is bone-dry, and smoking is never a good idea. It's shocking, but some people throw burning cigarettes from their vehicle even today, don't be one of those people. Cigarettes can cause a fire in the grass as it smoulders away.
If there is any extra vegetation near your house, clear it away. And try to use fireproof materials in the construction of your home, whenever possible. Some ways to do this are to install tempered glass windows, a spark arrestor on the chimney, and fire resistant shingles. Not only do these things keep you safer, they will likely end up saving you money on your home insurance.
A prepared evacuation plan is essential. Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do. And do keep an emergency kit on hand. Include 3 days worth of drinking water, and an assortment of non-perishable food items. Other helpful items include a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
Fill any large containers, such as pools, hot tubs, or garbage cans with water to slow down an approaching fire. When evacuation is ordered by an authority, take it seriously and evacuate right away. To make your home more simple to recognize, use address numbers that are fireproof. This will help firefighters locate your home quickly.
And of course, call 911 if you see any sign of a wildfire.
Make sure you have the right home insurance. If the worst happens, and a wildfire strikes in your area, don't be caught without enough coverage to rebuild your home!
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This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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