Prepare Yourself


Create Your Wildfire Action Plan

Developing a well-thought-out Wildfire Action Plan is crucial for every household. Tailor your plan to address specific family needs and situations, ensuring everyone is well-prepared ahead of a wildfire.

Your Wildfire Action Plan should include:

  • Meeting point: A predetermined meeting location outside high-risk areas to determine who has evacuated from the affected area.
  • Escape routes: Several escape routes, known to all in your household. Practice these often so everyone in your family knows where to go.
  • Animal arrangements: Specific arrangements for pets and larger animals, like horses and other livestock.
  • Communication Plan: A family communication strategy names someone outside the area to be the main contact point for all family members if you get separated or have trouble with the phone networks.

Pre-fire: Plan, prepare and practice before a wildfire occurs.

A wildfire may make it necessary for you and your neighbors to evacuate. Plan, prepare and practice wildfire evacuation together and with your local emergency services. This can help save lives! 

Pre-fire: Plan

  • Sign up to receive local emergency alerts and warnings on all home phones, cellphones and other devices. 
  • Create a Family Emergency Communication Plan.
  • Know what your community’s emergency notification and evacuation plans are. 
  • Plan an evacuation route away from your home and other alternate routes in case the first route is closed or threatened by wildfire. 
  • Make sure your designated contact knows your plan and to communicate with you to know you are safe. 
  • Know the evacuation plans for locations where household members regularly are such as workplaces, schools and commuter routes. 
  • Plan to evacuate family, friends or neighbors who have disabilities. 
  • Maintain roads and bridges on your property and in your community if you are responsible for them. Improve roads to have 2 ways out and make them wide enough for emergency vehicles. Make sure everyone can open gated roads. Post load limits on bridges. Build culverts with materials that won’t melt.

Pre-fire: Prepare 

  • Prepack emergency supply kits. View a recommended Supply List HERE. 
  • Back vehicles into your garage or park them in an open space facing the direction of escape. 
  • Keep the gas tank in vehicles at least half full. Pre-fire: practice 
  • Practice often with everyone in your home, using at least 2 ways out of your neighborhood. 
  • Participate in community wildfire drills. If something could keep you from leaving successfully, such as a locked gate, address it immediately. 
  • Practice evacuating animals and pets, including how to operate trailers and other vehicles needed to transport them. Know what resources are needed for their care in case of evacuation. 

Pre-fire: Practice

  • Practice often with everyone in your home, using at least 2 ways out of your neighborhood. 
  • Participate in community wildfire drills. If something could keep you from leaving successfully, such as a locked gate, address it immediately. 
  • Practice evacuating animals and pets, including how to operate trailers and other vehicles needed to transport them. Know what resources are needed for their care in case of evacuation.

During a Wildfire Event

  • Charge all cellphones in case of power loss.
  • Know the local fire conditions and be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
  • Leave early if you are concerned. It may take more time than you think to evacuate due to heavier traffic and decreased visibility, or if you have small children, pets or livestock, or have physical challenges.
  • Go promptly when told to evacuate.
  • Don’t drive out with trailers or large vehicles like RV’s, especially if you are unfamiliar with operating them. A stalled or abandoned vehicle makes it hard for others to leave and first responders to get into the area.
  • Keep your car windows up and the air conditioning on to prevent embers and smoke from entering the vehicle.
  • Continue to listen for additional evacuation instructions.

After Evacuating

  • Make sure that everyone is okay once you are out. If someone is injured or not feeling well, get immediate assistance.
  • Inform your designated contact as soon as you are safe.
  • Don’t return to your home until you are told you can safely do so.
  • Follow safety guidance, including bringing in fresh water and other supplies.

 Prepare, Plan, and Practice Checklist provided by www.usfa.fema.gov and can be download HERE. 

The six Ps