Week 2: Prepare Your Home and Family for Wildfire

Welcome back to Wildfire Awareness Month! Last week, we emphasized the importance of knowing your risk. This week, we're moving on to the crucial next step: preparing your home and family for wildfire. Taking proactive steps now can significantly increase your chances of safety and minimize damage.

Protecting Your Home: Creating Defensible Space

Defensible space is the buffer zone around your home that you clear of vegetation and flammable materials. This space can slow or stop the spread of wildfire and give firefighters a safer area to work.

• Zone 1 (0-5 feet from your home): This is the most critical zone. Use non-flammable materials like gravel, concrete, or pavers. Remove all flammable vegetation, including mulch.

• Zone 2 (5-30 feet from your home): Keep grasses mowed short and remove dead vegetation. Space out trees and shrubs to prevent fire from spreading.

• Zone 3 (30-100 feet from your home): Create a more natural landscape, but still maintain it. Remove dead trees and branches.

Hardening Your Home: Making it Fire-Resistant

• Roof: Use fire-resistant roofing materials like metal, tile, or composition shingles.

• Siding: Choose fire-resistant siding materials like stucco, brick, or fiber cement.

• Windows: Install dual-pane windows to resist heat.

• Decks and Porches: Use fire-resistant materials and keep them clear of debris.

• Gutters: Regularly clean gutters to prevent the accumulation of flammable materials.

Preparing Your Family: Evacuation Planning

Having a well-thought-out evacuation plan is essential for your family's safety.

• Plan Your Routes: Identify multiple evacuation routes in case one is blocked.

• Designate a Meeting Place: Choose a location where your family can reunite after evacuating.

• Practice Your Plan: Conduct regular evacuation drills to ensure everyone knows what to do.

Create your own Action Plan

Ready-Set-Go-Wildland-Fire-Action-Plan-Pages-8-11.pdf

Download PDF • 727KB

Preparing a Go-Bag: Essential Supplies

A go-bag is a collection of essential items you can grab quickly in case of evacuation.

• Water and Food: Enough for several days.

• Medications: Prescription and over-the-counter medications.

• Important Documents: Copies of identification, insurance policies, and other important papers.

• First-Aid Kit: Include bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any other necessary supplies.

• Flashlight and Batteries: For navigating in the dark.

• Cell Phone and Charger: To stay connected.

• Cash: In case of power outages.

Create a Family Emergency Communication Plan

family-emergency-communication-planning-document.pdf

Download PDF • 1.05MB

Stay Informed: Emergency Alerts

Sign up for your local emergency alert system to receive timely notifications about wildfires and other emergencies.

You can sign up to receive emergency notifications at www.nocoalert.org

Take Action Now!

Don't wait until a wildfire is threatening your community to take these steps. Start preparing your home and family today.

What are your biggest challenges in preparing for wildfire, and what steps are you taking to overcome them? Share your plans and questions in the comments below!