Wildfire Survival Tips

Protecting your life and property from wildfires involves understanding the risks and taking proactive measures. Factors like property location, nearby vegetation, building condition, and water availability can all influence risk levels. In wildfires, the main threats are radiant heat, dehydration, and asphyxiation. However, well-prepared homes can withstand exposure and protect those inside, giving firefighters a better chance to save the property.

Using a combination of awareness, education, and preparedness is crucial for wildfire safety. FireFoil Fire Shields can enhance your home’s resilience, providing vital protection and giving firefighters the time needed to save your property. Below are key tips to maximize your chances of survival. Always consult with your local fire department for area-specific advice.

Important Fire Facts

  • Ember Attacks: Embers pose the greatest threat over time, arriving up to 30 minutes before the fire front and lasting for hours afterward. They can travel over a mile, potentially as large as fiery golf balls, igniting roofs and structures.
  • Radiant Heat & Direct Flame Contact: These threats come with the fire front and last 3–15 minutes, depending on wind and terrain.

PREPARATION BEFORE WILDFIRE SEASON

  • Create Defensible Space: Clear vegetation and debris for at least 100 feet around your home; increase to 150 feet on slopes or in high-wind areas.
  • Roof and Gutters: Keep gutters clean of leaves and twigs.
  • Storage Safety: Keep firewood, fuels, and flammable materials well away from your home.
  • Vegetation Management: Remove leaf litter and shrubs near the house and maintain short, green grass.
  • Spark Prevention: Cover vents with 1/8" wire mesh and screen doors, windows, and vents. Seal gaps in roof eaves and foundations.
  • Access & Equipment: Keep a ladder for roof access and hoses that reach all parts of your property. If no water is connected, secure a high-pressure pump.
  • Household Plan: Decide whether to evacuate early or stay and defend a well-prepared home.
  • Insurance: Ensure your wildfire insurance covers full replacement costs.
  • Firezat Fire Shields: Have your Firezat installation kits ready, including chicken wire, staples, and sandbags.

IF A WILDFIRE APPROACHES: LEAVE OR STAY AND DEFEND

  • Evacuate Early: If authorities advise evacuation, leave immediately to avoid getting trapped.
  • Plan for Shelter: If staying, have a backup shelter like a cellar, lake, or basement. Inform others of your plans.
  • Essential Gear: Respirator masks, goggles, protective clothing, and sturdy boots are critical. Make sure you have extras if others are assisting.
  • Deploy Firezat House Covers: Install covers well before the fire arrives, securing them with staples, chicken wire, and sandbags.
  • Water Supply: Fill baths, sinks, and buckets with water. Turn off gas and electricity.
  • Exterior Preparation: Place water buckets at the corners of your home, and use a woolen mop to extinguish spot fires. Do not rely on water pressure.
  • Interior Preparation: Remove curtains, move furniture away from windows, and cover windows with Fire Shields if possible.
  • Personal Protection: Wear long-sleeved wool or heavy cotton clothing, boots, goggles, and gloves. Use wraps to protect your neck from embers and stay hydrated.
  • Roof & Gutters: Plug downspouts and fill gutters with water. Wet down walls and gardens facing the fire front.
  • During the Fire: Stay inside, away from windows, and near the floor while the fire front passes (5–15 minutes).
  • After the Fire Front Passes: Extinguish any remaining fires around and inside the house, including the roof cavity.
  • In Case of House Fire: If the house cannot be saved, move to safe, burnt ground and wait for help. Monitor updates on a battery-powered radio.

IF CAUGHT IN A FIRE WHILE DRIVING: SHELTER IN YOUR CAR

  • Avoid driving into or near wildfires. If caught, do not drive through flames or heavy smoke.
  • Stop in an area with low vegetation. Keep the motor running, air conditioner on recirculate, and activate hazard lights and headlights.
  • Stay inside unless you are close to a safe shelter. Keep vents, windows, and doors closed. Lie below window level, covered with a wool blanket for skin protection, until the fire front passes.
  • Studies show that car fuel tanks are unlikely to explode in the time needed to use the vehicle as a shield against the fire’s radiant heat.
  • Once the main fire front has passed, if the car is on fire or heat and fumes become severe, exit immediately and move to already burned ground, keeping yourself covered with the blanket.

IF CAUGHT IN A FIRE ON FOOT: SEEK SHELTER

  • Stay Calm: Cover all exposed skin.
  • Move across the slope and away from the fire front, then head downslope towards the rear of the fire.
  • Look for open or already burned ground. Do not attempt to outrun the fire, run uphill, or move through flames unless you clearly see a safe area nearby.
  • If unable to escape the fire, protect yourself from the radiant heat by lying face down under an embankment, rock, loose earth, or in a hollow. If possible, enter a pond, dam, or stream—but avoid water tanks.

VITAL POINTS TO REMEMBER

  • If you are in a house or car, you are generally safer than being in the open while the fire front passes. Remain there unless instructed to leave by emergency authorities.
  • If caught outside, protect yourself from the radiant heat using any available means.

Note: A heavy, pure wool blanket and a flask of water are essential for wildfire survival. A wool blanket can shield against radiant heat, dehydration, and asphyxiation, while a moistened corner of the blanket can act as a smoke mask.

 

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