Wildfires: Prevention and Preparation at Home

Wildfires are one of the most common natural disasters in Idaho. Because of our naturally dry and windy environment fires can start easily and carry quickly. Though wildfires are often massive and hard to control or predict, there are ways to prepare your house and family.

Preparing Your Family

Talk to them about the facts of wildfires. Ignorance to potential threats could leave them unprepared if the disaster strikes. Then make an emergency plan. Examples of what specifics to include are:

• Where will we all meet together if our street is evacuated?

• Who will be responsible for getting the pets to safety? What will they need to do?

• What emergency supplies do we need to bring with us?

• What telephone numbers do we need with us?

• Which special belongings or important documents need to come with us?

Once a plan is in place, work with your family to ensure that it can be carried out efficiently. Have all of your emergency supplies in one location, practice moving to the meeting place, and memorize important phone numbers.

Preparing Your Home

You can protect your home from needless fire hazards by creating a Defensible Space. This space includes about 100 feet around your house, and it’s divided into three zones.

1. Zone One (Red Zone)

In this zone, you want to eliminate any flammable materials on your home. This includes removing debris from gutters, having non-flammable roofing and overhangs, and looking for any flammable decorations or home accessories.

2. Zone Two (Yellow Zone)

This zone has well watered vegetation surrounded by retaining walls of rock or brick. Any dry debris should be cleared away, and trees need to be pruned.

3. Zone Three (Green Zone)

This zone has native vegetation that has been thinned through. Any potentially flammable trees or shrubs should be removed and replaced with less-fire-prone plants.

Source:

www.idahofirewise.org/home-safety/defensible-space-2/