WHAT TO DO IF YOUR HOME IS THREATENED BY WILDFIRE
 If your home is threatened by wildfire, you may be contacted by a fire or law enforcement official and advised to evacuate. However, if you are not contacted in time, or if you decide to stay with your home, we offer the following suggestions:
If you are able, evacuate your pets and all family members who are not essential to protecting the home, but do not jeopardize your life or theirs.
Be properly dressed to survive the fire. Cotton and wool fabrics are preferable to synthetics. Wear long pants and boots, and candy with you for protection a long sleeved shirt or jacket, gloves, a damp handkerchief to shield your face, and goggles.
OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE:
Remove combustible items from around the house. This includes lawn furniture, umbrellas, and tarp coverings. If they catch fire, the added heat could ignite your home.
If possible, close outside attic, eave, and basement vents. This will eliminate the possibility of sparks blowing into hidden areas within the house. Close window shutters.
Locate garden hoses so they will reach any place on the house. Use the spray gun type nozzle, adjusted to spray.
Place large plastic trash cans or buckets around the perimeter of the house and fill them with water. Soak burlap sacks, small rags and large rags. They can be helpful in beating out burning embers or small fires.
Place a ladder against the roof of the house opposite the side of the approaching fire. If you have a combustible roof, set a lawn sprinkler on it. This will be more effective than a hose. However, do not turn on the water ahead of time, as wood shingles dry quickly and you will have wasted water.
If you have a portable gasoline powered pump to take water from a tank, make sure it is operating and in place.
Shut off gas at the propane tank.
INSIDE YOUR HOUSE:
Close all windows and doors to prevent sparks from blowing inside, but do not lock them. If firefighters arrive to help save your home, they may need instant access.
Open the damper in your fireplace to help stabilize outside/inside pressure, but close the fireplace screen so sparks will not ignite the room.
Turn on a light in each room of the house, on the porch, in the garden and in the yard. This will make the house more visible in heavy smoke and at night.
Fill bathtubs, sinks and other containers with water. Toilet tanks and water heaters are important water reservoirs.
If you have time, take down your drapes and curtains. If you don't have time to take them down, leave them open. Close all venetian blinds for fire resistive window coverings to reduce the amount of heat radiating into your home.
Move overstuffed furniture away from the windows and sliding glass doors and into the center of the house.
Park your car in the garage, heading out; close car windows; leave keys in the ignition. Be sure to have enough gas to get out of the area.
Close garage door but leave it unlocked. Disconnect the automatic garage door opener.
Place valuable documents and mementos inside the car in the garage for quick departure, if necessary. Any pets still with you should also be put in the car.
WHEN THE FIRE IS AT YOUR HOUSE:
Enter your home with your family, closing but not locking the door. Keep the entire family together and remain calm. Remember: If it gets hot in the house it is four or five times hotter outside.
AFTER THE FIRE PASSES:
Check the roof immediately. Extinguish any sparks or embers with a garden hose, barrels of water and your small rugs. Then, check inside the attic for hidden sparks. Still keep the doors and windows closed in the house. Continue checking for at least six to ten hours after the fire is thought to be out. The key in being your own successful firefighter is preparation. To be safe, not sorry, plan procedures and provide necessary equipment ahead of tñne. This advance work can give you and your home a fighting chance should you be caught in a wildfire this season.
Forest Lakes Fire Department
Jack Dunn
April 2000
|
