• Introduction
  
   
• Fire Environment
  
   
• Examples of Local Fire Behavior
  
   
• FAQs about Defensible Space
  
   
• Creating an Effective Defensible Space
  
   
• Firescape:  Fire Safe Landscape Design
  
   
• Other considerations in Making Your Home Defensible
  
   
• When Wildfire Approaches

- WHEN WILDFIRE APPROACHES -

• Evacuate, if possible, all family members not essential to protecting the house, as well as pets.

• Contact a friend or relative and relay your plans.

• Make sure family members are aware of the prearranged meeting place.

• Tune into a local radio station and listen for instructions.

• Place vehicles in the garage, have them pointing out, and rollup the windows.

• Place valuable papers and mementos in the car.

• Close the garage door, but leave it unlocked.  If applicable, disconnect the electric garage door opener so that the door can be opened manually.

• Place combustible patio furniture in the house or garage.

• Shut off propane at the tank or natural gas at the meter.

• Wear only cotton or wool clothes.  Proper attire includes long pants, long sleeved shirt or jacket, and boots.  Carry gloves, a handkerchief to cover face, water to drink, and goggles.

• Close all exterior vents.

• Prop a ladder against the house so firefighters have easy access to the roof.

• Make sure that all garden hoses are connected to faucets and attach a nozzle set on "spray".

• Soak rags, towels, or small rugs with water to use in beating out embers or small fires.

• Inside, fill bathtubs, sinks, and other containers with water.  Outside, do the same with garbage cans and buckets.  Remember that the water heater and toilet tank are available sources of water.

• Close all exterior doors and windows.

• Close all interior doors.

• Open the fire place damper, but place the screen over the hearth to prevent sparks and embers from entering the house.

• Leave a light on in each room.

• Remove lightweight and/or non-fire resistant curtains and other combustible materials from around windows.

• If available, close fire resistant drapes, shutters, or Venetian blinds.  Attach pre-cut plywood panels to the exterior side of windows and glass doors.

• Turn off all pilot lights.

• Move overstuffed furniture to the center of the room.

• Keep wood shake or shingle roofs moist by spraying water.  Do not waster water.  Consider placing a lawn sprinkler on the roof if water pressure is adequate.  Do not turn on until burning embers begin to fall on roof.

• Continually check the roof and attic for embers, smoke, or fire.

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