With the scope and size of the Sand Fire, still burning in
Santa Clarita, focus this fire season should be on
preparedness. Give your household the best chance of
surviving a wildfire by being ready to go and evacuating
early. This includes going through pre-evacuation
preparation steps (only if time allows) to increase your
home’s defenses, as well as creating a Wildfire Action
Plan for your family. Being ready to go also means
knowing when to evacuate and what to do if you become
trapped. Follow this Home Evacuation Checklist – How to
Prepare for Evacuation: Inside the House Shut all windows
and doors, leaving them unlocked. Remove flammable
window shades, curtains and close metal shutters.
Remove lightweight curtains. Move flammable furniture to
the center of the room, away from windows and doors.
Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights. Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions. Have a list already prepared of what you need to load
into the car: family photos, important docutments, etc. Shut off the air conditioning. Outside Gather up flammable items
from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, trash cans, etc.) or place
them in your pool. Turn off propane tanks. Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures. Connect garden hoses to
outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around the house. Don’t leave
sprinklers on or water running, they can affect critical water pressure. Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to
firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night. Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle. Back your car into the
driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you. Have a ladder available and
place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof. Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut
plywood or commercial seals. Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you
feel threatened. Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave. Animals locate your pets and keep them
nearby. Prepare farm animals for transport and think about moving them to a safe location early. For more information on
preparing for a wildfire and pre-planning, visit www.readyforwildfire.org.