Preparing For Wildfires

By Devon Molark


The spreading of fire from one tree to another happens in almost no time when the forest is thick. Taking some of these precautions will keep you and your family safer, as well as your home, before the evacuation crews order you to leave:

Getaway bag: When evacuation is necessary, the time is short, so have some essential items in a duffel bag placed near your main entrance. If one of your family members is not home when disaster strikes, you will be able to gather up what is important for them as well. Essentials include prescription medicines and photocopies of important documents. Nice-to-haves include toiletries, electronics, etc.

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.

Look up, look way up: If you have overhead power lines on your property, make sure they are clear of vegetation and well away from the nearest tree. Heavy winds can bring down trees, as well as fire.

Protection zone: A general rule of thumb is to clear any trees, vegetation that could catch fire, or other debris away from your home at a distance of 10 metres.

Prevention is best: People who are not careful are the cause of half of the wild fires each year. An extremely dangerous and costly forest fire can come from any spark, from a cigarette butt, a careless camper, or even a controlled burn that is done improperly.

If the weather is extremely dry, it's a bad idea to build a camp fire. And make sure you don't throw a lit cigarette from your car. Dry vegetation on the side of the road can catch fire quite quickly from an still burning cigarette butt.

Keep your property clear of excess vegetation. And try to use fireproof materials in the construction of your home, whenever possible. This could include fire resistant shingles, tempered glass windows, a spark arrestor on your chimney. Taking these steps may even reduce your home insurance rate.

Have an evacuation plan ready. Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do. And do keep an emergency kit on hand. The kit must have a minimum of 3 days drinking water, and some foods that are non-perishable. It's essential to have a first-aid kit included, and a portable radio, flashlight, and extra batteries are important.

You can slow down a fire that is coming your way by having containers like garbage cans filled with water, as well as a pool or hot tub. When evacuation is ordered by an authority, take it seriously and evacuate right away. It's always a good idea to make sure your house numbers are visible, and preferably made of fireproof materials. Your home will be determined faster by firefighters this way.

And of course, call 911 if you see any sign of a wildfire.

Go over your home insurance coverage to be sure that you are fully protected. A wildfire could strike at any time, so be sure that your home insurance is adequate, so that if a tragedy occurs and your home is lost, you can have it rebuilt without losing everything.



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