Fire!!! Got a plan?
Monument Fire – Sierra Vista & Hereford, AZ on the flat land
There doesn’t seem to be an end to the misery folks in California are going through with all these horrible fires. So many missing. So many dead. So many homes gone. So many acres destroyed. My heart aches for all those people and what they must be going through wondering about loved ones.
When Fred or I see smoke or hear a fire truck, whether at home or in the forest, we are on guard. It would be devastating to lose our home to fire but we have a plan. We know what we would grab, where we would go, and the actions to take if such an emergency occurred. Having a plan is the best way to deal with any emergency.
Here are some tips I’ve gleamed from various sources over the years that might help you in developing your plan. These are good whether you are camping or at home:
- Have an emergency exit route and know it. Practice using it in daylight and in the dark.
- Gather at a designated area once safely away from the fire.
- Be sure to account for everyone.
- Use 911 to report the emergency but do so after you are safe.
- Know your post-emergency contacts – people like parents, siblings, friends will appreciate knowing you are okay.
- Be sure you and others can open doors or windows along your emergency route.
- When fire is detected, leave the building/area immediately. Do not “investigate” the source of a fire. You’ll be using up valuable time.
- As you leave, close all doors behind you to limit the movement of smoke, flames or noxious odors.
- Do not re-enter the building for any reason once you have left. This means you’ll probably only be able to grab the most important stuff like your children or pets.
And, of course,”only you can prevent wildfires.”
