“Wildfire Won’t Wait! Act now to prepare, prevent, and minimize the damage of wildfires in California.” — CALFIRE

We see in the news of wildfires burning throughout California, 21 currently as of this article. A wildfire is an unplanned fire that burnt in a natural area, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie. They arestarted by lightning orhumans.Wildfires can spread quickly, giving people little time to evacuate. Be prepared to evacuate ata moment’s notice to keep you and your family safe. Leave if you are told to evacuate, listen to emergency alerts for updates, call 911 if trapped, and use N95 masks to help with breathing. There are things you can do now, so that you can be prepared for the worst.

Before there is a threat of a wildfire in our area, do these important steps. Sign up for the community warning system. Sierra County uses Everbridge. You can go online to www.sierracounty.ca.gov and sign up. Have an action plan that all family members are familiar with. Know the evacuation routes that you will need (plan for pets and livestock). Have an emergency bag ready for each person with their specific needs, including medications. Have extra charging cords and charging devices. Store important documents in a fireproof safe and back up with password protected digital copies. Make a defense zone around your property. Remove flammable materials, dry leaves, and debris for at least 30 feet. Keep the gutters of your home clean. Use fire-resistant material to build, renovate or make repairs. Make sure outdoor water sources can reach all areas of the property. Review your insurance policy to make sure it is up to date for coverage. Take pictures of your belongings. Connect with your local Firewise Community Organization for more detailed community-based planning.

If it seems unsafe, or likely to become unsafe, leave now. Do not wait to be told. In our rural areas, the communications systems are often the first to be compromised. Notifications may not reach you. Due to very limited staffing, door to door notification is not always possible. If you are told to evacuate, leave immediately. If trapped due to the fire call 911 but be aware response time may not be possible or slow incoming. Turn the lights on to help responders locate you. Use masks to keep ash and debris in the air out of your lungs. If air quality is poor, stay indoors, if possible.

After the fire has been contained what is next? Listen to the authorities for when it is safe to return and if there are any hazards to be concerned with. Avoid smoldering areas to prevent burning yourself or triggering another fire. Document property damage with photos. Conduct an inventory and contact your insurance company for assistance.

In a time of emergency, being prepared can lessen the panic of the crisis. Have an action plan for you and your loved ones. Have a meeting point or have someone out of the area be a point of contact in case of separation. Most shelters are not able to give out information for finding loved ones. Don’t wait until you need to leave to figure out what you need. You do not get that kind of forewarning. The Camp Fire in Paradise, CA, sadly showed us this,with the loss of 85 lives.

“We cannot stop natural disasters, but we can arm ourselves with knowledge: so many lives wouldn't have to be lost if there was enough disaster preparedness.” — Petra Nemcova

https://readyforwildfire.org/

Have fun and stay safe,

Nurse Deb