If you live on a remote hillside or
in a valley, prairie, or forest where flammable
vegetation is abundant, your residence could
be vulnerable to wildfires. These fires are
usually triggered by lightning or accidents
and can spread quickly, igniting brush, trees
and homes.
If wildfire threatens you home and time
permits, take the following precautions:
Shut off gas at the meter. Only your gas
company personnel can safely turn the gas
back on.
Seal attic and ground vents with
pre-cut plywood or other commercials seals.
Turn off propane tanks.
Place combustible
patio furniture inside.
Connect garden
hose to outside hose bibs. If you have
a composite or wood shake
roof, place lawn sprinklers on the
roof and near
above-ground fuel (e.g., propane,
diesel) tanks.
Wet or remove shrubs within
15 feet of your residence.
Gather fire
tools such as a rake, axe, handsaw or chainsaw,
bucket
and shovel.
Back your car into
the garage or park it in an open space
facing the direction
of
escape. Shut doors and roll
up windows. Leave the key in the
ignition
and
the car doors
unlocked. Disconnect automatic
garage door openers.
Open fireplace
damper and close fireplace screens.
Close
windows, vents, doors, blinds or noncombustible
window coverings,
and
heavy drapes. Remove
flammable drapes or curtains.
Move flammable furniture into center of
the home
away from
windows and
sliding glass
doors.
Close all interior
doors.
Place valuables that
will not be damaged
by water
in a pool
or pond.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately
with your survival kit(s). Choose a route
away from the fire hazard or follow emergency
responder directions. Watch for changes in
speed and direction of the fire and smoke.
