How to Stay Safe If You Live in a Bushfire-Prone Area
When you are in the middle of a fire, it is difficult for you to breathe, much less think. As a veteran of the devastating Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires in Colorado Springs, I can attest to that. It has been a tough year in terms of wildfires in the United States and Canada – and while many eyes are now on the 10 active wildfires in central California, there are also large wildfires in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and West Virginia.
If you are currently experiencing a wildfire in your area, trying to help a loved one along the way, or just thinking about the future, we hope this safety guide can offer some help.
Realize your risk of forest fires
The National Inter-Agency Fire Center (NIFC) is one of the best places to start assessing your personal risk – whether the fires are raging around you or everything is currently calm.
On this site, you can find a link to the National Interagency Coordination Center , and from there, click right in your area to see current fires, what the response is, as well as potential area fires and weather forecasts.
State and county websites may also provide the latest information.
Make sure you get local alerts
Most cellular service providers these days participate in the Wireless Emergency Alert program . You don’t need to sign up for the program, but you do need to make sure the option is selected on your phone to receive these free location-based text notifications.
When a fire breaks out in your area, you will receive imminent threat alerts as determined by local public safety officials. When we survived the Waldo Canyon fire here in Colorado Springs five years ago, it was especially helpful to receive warnings notifying us when areas were to be evacuated.
Get ready to evacuate
We knew we had to have an evacuation plan. We didn’t, so we started the process breathing in smoke and watched the local news on TV all day. If I can say one thing, it is that I would like us to do this ahead of time. If you are currently safe, ready.gov can help you plan . (And if you’re like us, it can help you pick up speed quickly.)
Questions you should know the answers to:
- If you cannot be at your home, where will you stay?
- What are the special needs of your family members (medical, dietary, disability, etc.)?
- If you have pets, how will you manage them and their needs?
- What is your escape route?
- What are your family’s plans to keep in touch, even if they are apart?
- What papers and documents do I need to take with me?
- What do you need to do to protect your home right before evacuation?
Protect your health
If you are living or evacuating from an active fire area, you may be exposed to flying sparks and ash, so wear protective clothing and footwear if you need to be outdoors.
Beyond this, smoke is of greatest concern. Although the elderly, children, and people with heart or lung conditions are most at risk from bushfire smoke, anyone can be harmed from smoke inhalation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:
- Air quality checks and suggestions on how safe it is to be outdoors for your specific zip code on the EPA’s AirNow.gov website;
- Consult local visibility guides so you know what the level of particulate matter is in your air;
- If you are advised to stay inside, keep the indoor air as clean as possible, which means that windows and doors must be closed, and turn on air conditioners with a closed intake of fresh air, or seek shelter elsewhere if you cannot;
- Don’t rely on dust masks found in hardware stores for protection — they don’t catch smoke particles.
As we reported earlier this summer , the smoke affects not only those who live nearby, but also those who live in remote neighboring areas. If you see haze, smell smoke, burn your eyes, or simply know about a wildfire in your area, your health may be affected.
The U.S. EPA offers more advice on everything from how to reduce vehicle smoke to choosing (and using) the right respirator in its 2016 Wildfire Smoke Guide .