The spreading of fire from one tree to another happens in almost no time when the forest is thick. Long before the emergency evacuation crew knocks at your door, here are a few things you can do to protect your family and your belongings:
Have a getaway bag prepared: You may not get a lot of time, so having a gym bag packed with essentials in the front hall closet will ensure you have what you need. This will also make any temporarily away family members feel better, since you can protect their most valued items. Essentials include prescription medicines and photocopies of important documents. Nice-to-haves include toiletries, electronics, etc.
Important Data: Back up your data on an external hard drive automatically, so that if you need to leave in a hurry, you can just grab the drive, and have more time to get other irreplaceable items.
Look up, look way up: If you have overhead power lines on your property, make sure they are clear of vegetation and well away from the nearest tree. Trees fall down, not only in fires, but in wind storms as well.
Protection zone: A general rule of thumb is to clear any trees, vegetation that could catch fire, or other debris away from your home at a distance of 10 metres.
Only you can prevent forest fires: Close to 50% of wild fires are caused by human carelessness. An extremely dangerous and costly forest fire can come from any spark, from a cigarette butt, a careless camper, or even a controlled burn that is done improperly.
Camp fires are not a good idea when the forest is bone-dry, and smoking is never a good idea. Never discard of a burning cigarette our of your car window. Dry vegetation on the side of the road can catch fire quite quickly from an still burning cigarette butt.
Keep your property clear of excess vegetation. And try to use fireproof materials in the construction of your home, whenever possible. Some ways to do this are to install tempered glass windows, a spark arrestor on the chimney, and fire resistant shingles. Your home insurance premiums can also be reduced by taking precautions like these.
Take the time to create a detailed evacuation procedure. Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do. Have an emergency kit prepared as well. The kit must have a minimum of 3 days drinking water, and some foods that are non-perishable. Other helpful items include a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
If you have a hot tub or pool, keep them filled with water, as well as garbage cans or other kinds of containers. Evacuate your home immediately, if ordered by a civil authority. It's always a good idea to make sure your house numbers are visible, and preferably made of fireproof materials. This will help firefighters locate your home quickly.
And of course, call 911 if you see any sign of a wildfire.
Having adequate home insurance is even more important when you live in an area that is more susceptible to wildfires. A wildfire could strike at any time, so be sure that your home insurance is adequate, so that if a tragedy occurs and your home is lost, you can have it rebuilt without losing everything.
Have a getaway bag prepared: You may not get a lot of time, so having a gym bag packed with essentials in the front hall closet will ensure you have what you need. This will also make any temporarily away family members feel better, since you can protect their most valued items. Essentials include prescription medicines and photocopies of important documents. Nice-to-haves include toiletries, electronics, etc.
Important Data: Back up your data on an external hard drive automatically, so that if you need to leave in a hurry, you can just grab the drive, and have more time to get other irreplaceable items.
Look up, look way up: If you have overhead power lines on your property, make sure they are clear of vegetation and well away from the nearest tree. Trees fall down, not only in fires, but in wind storms as well.
Protection zone: A general rule of thumb is to clear any trees, vegetation that could catch fire, or other debris away from your home at a distance of 10 metres.
Only you can prevent forest fires: Close to 50% of wild fires are caused by human carelessness. An extremely dangerous and costly forest fire can come from any spark, from a cigarette butt, a careless camper, or even a controlled burn that is done improperly.
Camp fires are not a good idea when the forest is bone-dry, and smoking is never a good idea. Never discard of a burning cigarette our of your car window. Dry vegetation on the side of the road can catch fire quite quickly from an still burning cigarette butt.
Keep your property clear of excess vegetation. And try to use fireproof materials in the construction of your home, whenever possible. Some ways to do this are to install tempered glass windows, a spark arrestor on the chimney, and fire resistant shingles. Your home insurance premiums can also be reduced by taking precautions like these.
Take the time to create a detailed evacuation procedure. Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do. Have an emergency kit prepared as well. The kit must have a minimum of 3 days drinking water, and some foods that are non-perishable. Other helpful items include a portable radio, a flashlight, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
If you have a hot tub or pool, keep them filled with water, as well as garbage cans or other kinds of containers. Evacuate your home immediately, if ordered by a civil authority. It's always a good idea to make sure your house numbers are visible, and preferably made of fireproof materials. This will help firefighters locate your home quickly.
And of course, call 911 if you see any sign of a wildfire.
Having adequate home insurance is even more important when you live in an area that is more susceptible to wildfires. A wildfire could strike at any time, so be sure that your home insurance is adequate, so that if a tragedy occurs and your home is lost, you can have it rebuilt without losing everything.
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