FireWise for All Seasons Promotion Materials
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A WILDFIRE?
If you have taken steps to create a FireWise property, you have a good chance of surviving a wildland fire. But when a wildland fire is immediately threatening your area, there are additional steps you can take to protect yourself and your home. First review your FireWise checklist:
• Rake any debris or leaves from buildings, under decks, porches; clean roof and gutters.
• Remove furniture and all stored items from decks and porches.
• Firewood and fuels should be moved well away from your house. This includes ATV's, snow machines, and vehicles.
• Grass around buildings should be mowed and watered.
• A hose should be available that will reach to all parts of the house with a reliable water supply.
• Tools, such as a shovel, and a ladder which can reach the roof should be readily available.
• Have proper clothing and leather gloves.
• Smoke detectors should be properly placed and working. If needed, put into practice your already established family evacuation plan.
Be sure to preplan and practice your evacuation procedures. Pack your Emergency Disaster Kit with 3 days worth of supplies. Keep in mind the 5 P's: people, pets, photos, pills, important papers.
WHEN WILDFIRE THREATENS
If there is time before the fire arrives, do the following:
1. Prepare to evacuate
_ Park your car in the garage or heading out (so you don't have to back out), with the windows closed and keys in the ignition.
_ Close the garage door but leave it unlocked; disconnect the automatic garage door opener in case of power failure.
_ Park your ATV, heading out, with the keys in the ignition.
_ Place valuable documents, family mementos, and pets inside the car in the garage for quick departure, if necessary.
_ Keep flashlight, portable radio, and fresh batteries with you at all times.
_ If you do evacuate, use your preplanned route, away from the approaching fire front.
_ If you are trapped by a fire while evacuating in your car, park in an area clear of vegetation, close all vehicle windows and vents, cover yourself with a blanket or jacket, and lie on the floor.
_ If you are trapped by fire while evacuating on foot, select an area clear of vegetation along a road, or lie in the road ditch. Cover any exposed skin with a jacket or blanket. Avoid canyons that can concentrate and channel fire.
2. Outside your home
_ Shut off liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) valves.
_ Move combustible yard furniture away from the house or store it in the garage; if it catches fire while outside, the added heat could ignite your house.
_ Attach garden hoses to spigots and place them so they can reach an area of your house.
_ Fill trash cans and buckets with water and locate them where firefighters can reach them.
_ If you have an emergency generator or a portable gasoline-powered pump that will supply water from a hot tub, pond, well, tank, or river, clearly mark its location and make sure it is ready to operate.
_ Place a lawn sprinkler on flammable roofs, but don't turn it on unless the fire is an immediate threat. You do not want to reduce the supply of water for the firefighters.
_ Place a ladder against the house on the side opposite the approaching fire to help firefighters to rapidly get onto your roof.
_ Cover windows, attic openings, eaves, vents and subfloor vents with fire-resistant material such as 1/2-inch or thicker plywood. This will eliminate the possibility of sparks blowing into hidden areas within the house. Close window shutters if they are fire resistant.
_ If you choose to evacuate by your private aircraft, do so before the fire's arrival. Remember, the airspace surrounding the fire will be filed with suppression aircraft and a collision could occur. Once you are evacuated, do not re-enter the airspace until all flight restrictions are lifted.
3. Inside your home
_ Close all windows and doors to prevent sparks from blowing inside.
_ Close all doors inside the house to slow the spread of fire from room to room.
_ Turn on a light in each room of your house, on the porch, and in the yard. This will make the house more visible in heavy smoke or darkness.
_ Fill sinks, bathtubs and buckets with water. These can be important extra water reservoirs.
_ If you have metal blinds or special fire-resistant window coverings, close them to block heat radiation.
4. If you stay in your home when a fire approaches
_ Stay inside your house, away from outside walls.
_ Close all doors, but leave them unlocked.
_ Keep your entire family together and remain calm. Remember: If it gets hot in the house, it is many times hotter and more dangerous outside.
5. After the fire passes
_ Check the roof immediately, extinguishing all sparks and embers. If you must climb onto the roof, use caution, especially if it is wet.
_ Check inside the attic for hidden burning embers.
_ Check your yard for burning woodpiles, trees, fence posts, or other materials.
_ Keep the doors and windows closed.
_ Continue rechecking your home and yard for burning embers for at least 12 hours.
For more information on ways you can be FireWise, contact FireWise Kenai Peninsula at 260-4262.