Fires very quickly spread from tree to tree in dense forest. People are evacuated when this happens, but there are some steps that you can take to protect your home and family before an evacuation order:
Have a getaway bag prepared: You may not get a lot of time, so having a gym bag packed with essentials in the front hall closet will ensure you have what you need. In a case where some of your family is away, this will allow you to safeguard their most important possessions. Copies of your important documents, and life saving prescription drugs should be included in your bag. It would make this tough time easier if you have toiletries and electronics ready to go as well.
Important Data: Back up your data on an external hard drive automatically, so that if you need to leave in a hurry, you can just grab the drive, and have more time to get other irreplaceable items.
Keep an eye up high: For those who have power lines, always be certain that there is nothing touching them, and that trees are not allowed to be too close. Fires can bring down trees, but a wind storm can do the same thing.
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.
Only you can prevent forest fires: Close to 50% of wild fires are caused by human carelessness. It just takes one spark to start a huge tragic fire, cause by a controlled burns that gets out of hand, campfires that are carelessly left, or still burning cigarette butts.
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.
Cut back vegetation around your home. 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. Your home insurance premiums can also be reduced by taking precautions like these.
Have an evacuation plan ready. Review the plans with your family in the household so they understand the procedure. 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.
If you have a hot tub or pool, keep them filled with water, as well as garbage cans or other kinds of containers. If an official evacuation order is handed down, don't take chances, leave the home immediately To make your home more simple to recognize, use address numbers that are fireproof. Firefighters will find your house much more quickly if you take that precaution.
It almost goes without saying, but if you see a wildfire, be sure to call 911 right away.
Go over your home insurance coverage to be sure that you are fully protected. You really don't want to be without protection if a wildfire was to destroy your home, so be sure that you're fully insured against that.
Have a getaway bag prepared: You may not get a lot of time, so having a gym bag packed with essentials in the front hall closet will ensure you have what you need. In a case where some of your family is away, this will allow you to safeguard their most important possessions. Copies of your important documents, and life saving prescription drugs should be included in your bag. It would make this tough time easier if you have toiletries and electronics ready to go as well.
Important Data: Back up your data on an external hard drive automatically, so that if you need to leave in a hurry, you can just grab the drive, and have more time to get other irreplaceable items.
Keep an eye up high: For those who have power lines, always be certain that there is nothing touching them, and that trees are not allowed to be too close. Fires can bring down trees, but a wind storm can do the same thing.
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.
Only you can prevent forest fires: Close to 50% of wild fires are caused by human carelessness. It just takes one spark to start a huge tragic fire, cause by a controlled burns that gets out of hand, campfires that are carelessly left, or still burning cigarette butts.
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.
Cut back vegetation around your home. 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. Your home insurance premiums can also be reduced by taking precautions like these.
Have an evacuation plan ready. Review the plans with your family in the household so they understand the procedure. 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.
If you have a hot tub or pool, keep them filled with water, as well as garbage cans or other kinds of containers. If an official evacuation order is handed down, don't take chances, leave the home immediately To make your home more simple to recognize, use address numbers that are fireproof. Firefighters will find your house much more quickly if you take that precaution.
It almost goes without saying, but if you see a wildfire, be sure to call 911 right away.
Go over your home insurance coverage to be sure that you are fully protected. You really don't want to be without protection if a wildfire was to destroy your home, so be sure that you're fully insured against that.
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