With California undergoing a drought from the unrelenting dry heat, wildfires occur around the Bay Area hills around September to winter that can have devastating damage without the proper preparation. We have a concise guide on the smart steps to take before, during, and after in cases of nearing fire, evacuation, and more.
See also: How To Stay Cool During A Bay Area Heatwave
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CalFire has established a clever "ready, set and go" procedure that details what to do to best anticipate and stay safe during the high stress of a wildfire evacuation. The "ready" step starts right at home- preparing your yard, garden, and pathways against ignition.
Trimming brush, creating 100-foot clear space buffer between your house and flammable vegetation, and clearing flammable debris from paths and gutters are also easy ways to create a defensible space around your home which can also help firefighters get though and you evacuating easier.
Fire-resistant foliage is also an effective way to both stay safe and keep your landscape aesthetic, especially with nonflammable agave, aloe, succulents, French Lavender, sage, and yucca. Easily flammable plants are bamboo, Douglas fir, and eucalyptus.
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Be in the know in real time, that is the best way to be proactive, and it takes no time to turn on notifications from Alert SF, CalFire's Ready for Wildfire app, local Twitter updates, and more. Such online sources also hold accessible and helpful in-depth guides for further preparation that can be specific to your neighborhood.
View this post on Instagram
It is also vital to discuss with your family or household a plan ahead of time. If you can, even join discussions with the local community and familiarize yourself with the local surroundings- where to meet at, safe zones, etc.
Within your home, plan optimal escape routes, communication methods, evacuation appliance shut-downs, and make a shared checklist of what to grab and prepare to get your household all on the same page. Also be sure to place vehicles in areas where emergency vehicles will have enough space to go through.
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The "go" step from CalFire also involves creating a ready "go" bag, suitcase, or backback that has everything you will need for an evacuation that you can grab quickly and urgently.
Such items should include a first-aid kit, snacks and water, a change of clothes, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, toiletries, extra copies of important documents, and other personal essentials.
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Another easy, but integral action to ensuring you are covered is taking the time to duplicate your important documents and archive other personally-vital belongings. Create digital copies of physical photos, memorabilia, and other records like passports onto an external drive that you can easily grab or fit into your evacuation bag.
These steps take a short amount of time to plan out and execute but truly have a significant impact during wildfire emergencies that you will be glad that you stayed ahead of.
See also: Record-Breaking Heatwave In The SF Bay Area Prompts Energy Saving
Photography by: Thom Milkovic/Unsplash
With California undergoing a drought from the unrelenting dry heat, wildfires occur around the Bay Area hills around September to winter that can have devastating damage without the proper preparation. We have a concise guide on the smart steps to take before, during, and after in cases of nearing fire, evacuation, and more.
See also: How To Stay Cool During A Bay Area Heatwave
View this post on Instagram
CalFire has established a clever "ready, set and go" procedure that details what to do to best anticipate and stay safe during the high stress of a wildfire evacuation. The "ready" step starts right at home- preparing your yard, garden, and pathways against ignition.
Trimming brush, creating 100-foot clear space buffer between your house and flammable vegetation, and clearing flammable debris from paths and gutters are also easy ways to create a defensible space around your home which can also help firefighters get though and you evacuating easier.
Fire-resistant foliage is also an effective way to both stay safe and keep your landscape aesthetic, especially with nonflammable agave, aloe, succulents, French Lavender, sage, and yucca. Easily flammable plants are bamboo, Douglas fir, and eucalyptus.
View this post on Instagram
Be in the know in real time, that is the best way to be proactive, and it takes no time to turn on notifications from Alert SF, CalFire's Ready for Wildfire app, local Twitter updates, and more. Such online sources also hold accessible and helpful in-depth guides for further preparation that can be specific to your neighborhood.
View this post on Instagram
It is also vital to discuss with your family or household a plan ahead of time. If you can, even join discussions with the local community and familiarize yourself with the local surroundings- where to meet at, safe zones, etc.
Within your home, plan optimal escape routes, communication methods, evacuation appliance shut-downs, and make a shared checklist of what to grab and prepare to get your household all on the same page. Also be sure to place vehicles in areas where emergency vehicles will have enough space to go through.
View this post on Instagram
The "go" step from CalFire also involves creating a ready "go" bag, suitcase, or backback that has everything you will need for an evacuation that you can grab quickly and urgently.
Such items should include a first-aid kit, snacks and water, a change of clothes, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, toiletries, extra copies of important documents, and other personal essentials.
View this post on Instagram
Another easy, but integral action to ensuring you are covered is taking the time to duplicate your important documents and archive other personally-vital belongings. Create digital copies of physical photos, memorabilia, and other records like passports onto an external drive that you can easily grab or fit into your evacuation bag.
These steps take a short amount of time to plan out and execute but truly have a significant impact during wildfire emergencies that you will be glad that you stayed ahead of.
See also: Record-Breaking Heatwave In The SF Bay Area Prompts Energy Saving
Photography by: Thom Milkovic/Unsplash
