by Cindi Clarke

Created on: December 19, 2008   Last Updated: October 09, 2010

While living in the California desert area of Antelope Valley, wildfires were frequent during the summer months when the hot Santa Ana winds quickly dried out the sage brush and tumble weeds. Heat lightning would set off wildfires, or simply a cigarette tossed out of a car window. After experiencing one wildfire that came within 500 feet of our home, here are some safety tips that kept us from losing everything, and prepared us for future wildfire seasons.

Before wildfire season even starts, keep all landscaping, such as bushes, shrubs or trees at least 500 feet away from your home. This is a key safety tip because wildfires can quickly jump from bush to shrub to tree and before you know it, your roof is engulfed in flames.

Try to keep any grass that goes right up to the house from drying out, and if possible, keep a two to three foot area immediately around your home limited to a rock or gravel type of landscaping. This will prevent any creeping wildfires from being able to get right up to your exterior walls.

When considering roofing materials, look at fire resistant materials that will take longer to catch fire if at all in a wildfire situation. Choose tile or shake shingles if possible or another fire resistant or flame retardant roofing product. Remember that in wildfires, they are often wind driven and will create their own wind. You want a roofing product that will stay put in high winds.

Another key safety tip is to prepare an evacuation bag containing at least one or two changes of clothes and copies of any important papers, prescriptions, and toiletries. Any time you are told to evacuate, do not hesitate trying to figure out what to grab. Panic sets in quickly, especially when you smell the smoke of the approaching wildfires. If you have an evacuation bag already prepared and know exactly where your critical papers are to grab and run, you will save precious time.

Wildfires are unpredictable, and there is nothing more important that your own life. Leaving as soon as you are advised to leave will not only save your life, but also the lives of others who may put themselves at risk to try to evacuate you after roads are closed. Make plans now, and review other emergency evacuation safety tips to decide the best plan of action for you and your family. Assign each member of your family one task that they are to perform in case of an emergency, and routinely review your plans during wildfire season, or any other natural disaster season. If each person is given a specific responsibility to take care of, there are fewer chances for something - or someone - to be forgotten or left behind because each person thought another was taking care of it.

The best safety tip is that by being aware of your safety and that of your family and friends, you can survive wildfire seasons. Don't panic, listen to fire and police officials, and do as much as you can to prepare yourself and your home before any wildfires arrive. Don't attempt to stay and fight the wildfire yourself. If you follow the safety tips above for keeping vegetation away from your home, and using roofing materials that are fire resistant, the best thing you can do is to stay out of harm's way yourself.

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