During the Fire
Wildfires |
Get a Wildfire Kit |
Make a Plan |
Prepare |
During the Fire |
After the Fire
Survival in a Vehicle
Trying to survie a wildfire in a vehicle is very dangerous and should only be done in an emergency. Trying to survive a firestorm in your car is much less dangerous than trying to run from a fire on foot.
- Roll up windows and close air vents.
- Drive slowly with headlights on.
- Watch for other vehicles and pedestrians.
- Do not drive through heavy smoke.
- If you have to stop, park away from the heaviest trees and brush. Turn headlights on and ignition off. Roll up windows and close air vents.
- Get on the floor and cover up with a blanket or coat.
- Stay in the vehicle until the main fire passes.
- Stay in the car. Do not run! Engine may stall and not restart. Air currents may rock the car. Some smoke and sparks may enter the vehicle. Temperature inside will increase. Metal gas tanks and containers rarely explode.
If You Are Trapped at Home
If you are trapped by wildfire inside your home, stay inside and away from the outside walls. Close the doors but leave them unlocked. Keep entire family together and reamin calm.
If Caught in the Open
If you are caught in the open with a wildfire approaching, look for shelter in a sparse fuel area.
- If you are on a steep mountainside, the back side is safer.
- Avoid canyons, natural "chimneys" and saddles
- If a road is nearby, lie face down along the road cut or in the ditch on the uphill side.
- Cover yourself with anything that will shield you from the fire's heat.
- If hiking in the back country, seek a depression with sparse fuel.
- Clear fuel away from the area while the fire is approaching and then lie face down in the depression and cover yourself.
- Stay down until after the fire passes!
Get a Kit
- Get an Emergency Supply Kit, which includes items like non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries.
- Store it in your shelter location
Health Threat From Wildfire Smoke
Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.
How to tell if smoke is affecting you
Smoke can cause the following:
- Coughing
- A scratchy throat
- Irritated sinuses
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Headaches
- Stinging eyes
- A runny nose
- Asthma exacerbations
Protect yourself
- Limit your exposure to smoke.
- Pay attention to local air quality reports.
- If you are advised to stay indoors, keep indoor air as clean as possible.
- Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper "comfort" or "dust" masks commonly found at hardware stores are designed to trap large particles, such as saw dust. These masks will not protect your lungs from smoke. An "N95" mask, properly worn, will offer some protection.