by Jennifer Walker

Created on: December 21, 2008   Last Updated: December 24, 2008

Wildfires can happen anywhere in the country, so it is important to know how to keep yourself and your home safe in the event one occurs. This article covers some important safety tips that will help you to minimize damage and ensure you are never caught in an unsafe situation when wildfires threaten. One thing to remember is that these safety tips are most helpful when you plan in advance, before wildfires start.

Clear Brush around your Structures

This is one of the most important safety tips. Most wildfires take place in the countryside and forests, where trees and dry vegetation serve as fuel for the fire. While clearing all of the underbrush and dried grass from your property is impractical and disruptive to wildlife, you can clear the area around any structures on your property to keep them safe. Keeping your grass watered will also create a fire break.

In addition, having a swimming pool or pond on your property will not only provide a fire break, but the water may come in handy for fighting the fire.

Have an Evacuation Plan

Having an evacuation plan is critical. Before wildfires start, you should know how you will escape, what you will take with you and how you will take care of your animals. It is a good idea to make arrangements with friends who live near you who can get your animals out if you are unable to. It is also wise to have an agreement with someone who lives several miles from you who can house your animals if needed. Create a phone tree with a group of people so you can communicate quickly and help each other reach safety, and have a fire drill once per year to test the plan.

Know your Area

Number three in the list of safety tips that could save your life is to know all the roads that surround your property, along with every possible escape route. Wildfires can quickly make roads unsafe, so you should have more than one way to exit your property. Heavy smoke in the air, combined with stress, can be disorienting, so if you need to take an unfamiliar route you may get lost and put yourself in further danger. However, if you travel your alternative route often, you will know it well and will be able to drive straight to safety.

Give your Animals a Chance

While the other safety tips are for the benefit of you and your property, you need to think about your animals as well. Every year during wildfires, people who are unable to take their animals with them panic and turn them loose in hopes of giving them the best chance at survival. However, this is the worst thing you can do. Frightened, loose animals pose a danger to themselves and to fire fighters. Instead, if you absolutely cannot take them with you, put them where they have the best chance at survival: a well-irrigated field or dry lot (no grass at all) with the sprinklers on will most likely keep the fire at bay. Make sure all household pets have identification tags with your contact information, and horses should have halters and lead ropes nearby with your name and contact information on themduct tape works well for this. If your animals are evacuated without you, these safety tips will help you to find them later. Like the other safety tips, this is something you need to think about in advanceduring an evacuation, you will probably not have time to locate halters or identification tags.

Wildfires are scary things, but by following the above safety tips and planning in advance, you can avoid serious damage or injury.

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