On June 11, 2013, a forest fire started in Black Forest Colorado. This fire turned into a raging wildfire that destroyed over 500 homes and thousands of people had to be evacuated. This should highlight just how catastrophic a wildfire can be.
Wildfires usually occur in rural areas where there is a lot of vegetation and combustible material. If you live near the woods or the countryside where wildfires could pose a very real threat, you MUST be aware and prepared.
During periods where it’s extremely hot, all it takes is a dry twig catching fire to turn the entire forest into a raging wildfire. Humidity is another factor. The drier the air is, the more combustible the vegetation will be. The plants are dried out and perfect as fuel for a fire.
Wind will worsen the problem by fanning the flames and spreading them even further. This can be a huge problem and cause the wildfire to spread faster.
Just being aware of how dangerous wildfires can be should motivate you to be prepared.
- Safe zone
The first step will be to create a safe zone for your home. You need to mark out a circumference with a 12-meter radius around your home. It MUST be clear of plants, trees, shrubs, etc. Fire needs fuel to burn. If this 12-meter radius has no fuel, it’ll be difficult for the fire to reach your house.
After this 12-meter radius, you’ll want another circumference with an additional 5-meter radius where you have an irrigation system to keep the soil damp and moist. This will retard the fire. Any plants in this area should only comprise of small plants that are not too high. Potted plants, shrubs, etc.
So now, you have a 17-meter radius around your house that the fire will be less likely to reach. For extra measure, you could have another circumference with a 7-meter radius with drought resistant plants, etc. The goal here is to create a landscape for your home that prevents the fire from reaching it.
- But what about me?
You will NOT be in the home. Creating the safe zone for your house was just to protect your property from damage. The moment there’s a wildfire a distance away from you, the first step will be IMMEDIATE EVACUATION.
Fire is highly unpredictable and can be very volatile. With the fire comes smoke that will irritate your eyes, obscure your vision and suffocate you. Most deaths by fire occur because of smoke inhalation.
It’s imperative that you install a dual sensor alarm in your house that detects for both fire and smoke. If there’s a wildfire at night, the smoke alarm might pick up on it and the ringing will wake you up and give you enough time to escape.
You should always be well-prepared with your bug out bags ready to go and your vehicle should have fuel. Listen out to radio broadcasts about the weather. If there’s a wildfire nearby – EVACUATE immediately.
The good news is that fire burns uphill faster. So, if the fire is above you, you have more time to get away. If the fire is below you, tough luck. You’ll need to drive diagonally around it as fast as you can to get below it.
In the unfortunate event that you’re surrounded by fire while at home, the safe zone will protect you to some degree. Store face masks and eye goggles in your house. The masks will help you breathe better because there will be pollutants in the air.
If possible, use a water hose to spray water out into the ‘safe zone’ to make the area wet. Spray water all around the exterior of your house.
- Ultimately…
Ultimately, it all comes down to preparation. If you live in a forested area, you should have created a safe zone, built your house with non-combustible materials, installed smoke alarms and have several fire extinguishers around the house. You should also have a fire extinguisher in your vehicle for emergencies.
Always clean out your gutters and roof. All clogged material can become fuel for a fire.
Have an evacuation plan and run it by your family often. Practice the drill once a month or so. This will train everyone to respond instinctively.
Keep a first aid kit at home and one in your vehicle. You might need it or encounter someone who does. Have eye wash, burn ointment, face masks, gauze, etc.
Once the wildfire has been put out or died down, you may return to your house to check if it’s still standing and the safe zone worked. Do not move in yet. Get an engineer or an expert to ascertain if the structural integrity of the house is intact.
You can move in when you get the green light. Adhere to these tips and you’ll protect your property and your family from one of the worst types of weather catastrophes out there.