Wildfire Safety Precautions: How to Stay Safe During & After Fire Season

With the ever-present risk of wildfires, it's essential to stay prepared and informed year-round. Whether you live in a high-risk area or simply want to be prepared in case you ever encounter an emergency wildfire situation, here are some safety tips to consider. Let's get started!

When Are Wildfire Seasons in the U.S.?

It’s important not to get too caught up in the concept of a wildfire season. Unusual weather conditions and extreme ignition sources can certainly spark blazes outside of the traditional window. And, unfortunately, climate change appears to be shifting and lengthening the fire season in many parts of the world.

Still, everyone ought to have some conception of the regional wildfire climatology defining general patterns for where we live (and where we vacation). When and how much precipitation falls, dominating air masses and weather circulations, frequency of lightning (especially so-called “dry lightning,” which occurs when little or no rain reaches the ground from a thunderstorm or when fast-moving storms produce only brief rainfall at a given spot) and of strong winds, and typical levels of relative humidity are some of the many climate and weather factors that influence a given region’s primary wildfire season.

The following regional peak wildfire season months/periods for the conterminous U.S. and Alaska come from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG):

• Northwest: June – October
• Northern/Central Rocky Mountains: June – September
• Great Plains: Spring & Fall
• California: May – October (though some authorities consider Southern California’s wildfire season to be effectively year-round at this point)
• Southwest: May – Mid-July
• Great Lakes & Northeast: March – May; October – November
• Southeast: February – May; October – November
• Alaska: May – August

Wildfire season in Hawaii, meanwhile—where more than 98% of wildland fires are human-caused—is year-round.

Image by Ylvers from Pixabay

Wildfire Preparedness Before the Season

There’s much you can do to safeguard yourself from wildfires before the peak season gets underway.

Create & Maintain Defensible Space

The concept of defensible space refers to actively modifying the area around a home or other building (or, more broadly, an entire community) to reduce the rate and extent of fire spread and possible ignition sources. This is easily one of the most critical wildfire safety precautions one can take, especially if you reside in a wildland-urban interface (WUI), where human development interweaves with forest, woodland, brush, and other natural land cover.

Defensible space is often conceived of in the form of different concentric zones radiating from a home. There are actually a few different schemes, but one promoted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines the following:

• Zone 1: Within 30 feet of the home
• Zone 2: 30 to 100 feet (or more in steeper terrain) from the home
• Zone 3: Beyond 100 feet from the home

Essentially, combustible material (such as stacks of firewood, leaf litter, and non-fire-resistant vegetation) is completely removed from Zone 1, tightly controlled in Zone 2, and treated to one degree or another in Zone 3 to most safely transition into a less-modified surrounding landscape.

Bolstering your home’s resilience to wildfire isn’t just about managing the combustibility of your yardscape; it’s also about taking a look at the buildings you’re trying to protect themselves. Besides making sure flammable materials aren’t too close to a house (which not only increases the risk that it catches on fire, but can hamper firefighting efforts), you want to address vulnerable weak points where embers might be able to ignite parts of the building exterior or even enter the interior. Fix any loose or damaged roof tiles or shingles and make sure there aren’t any gaps between them; repair or replace broken windows and window screens. Cover vents, openings under porches and decks, and other places where combustible material or embers might infiltrate with metal-mesh screening, and keep those gutters clear!

Make sure you have a hose attached to a water source that can reach all parts of your immediate yard.

Learn more about creating a “firewise” home (including a slightly different way of thinking about defensible-space layout, the Home Ignition Zone) from the National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA).

Establish a Disaster Evacuation Plan

As with any natural disaster, the threat of wildfire demands that you work up an emergency plan for your household. A big part of this is identifying multiple potential escape routes from your home, neighborhood, and community in case you need to evacuate. Many municipalities and counties offer detailed information on local evacuation routes, so reach out to local authorities so that you’re familiar with these before a disaster strikes. 

There are plenty of resources available to help you create a solid wildfire emergency plan.

Emergency Supply Kit

You’ll also, of course, want to assemble a 72-hour kit and bug-out bags for your entire household (even your kids) to adequately prepare for possible wildfire-related extended utility outages or evacuations. Along with essentials such as extra food and water, flashlights/headlamps, a first-aid kit, and warm layers, make sure to include long-sleeved clothing, work gloves, and supportive thick-soled footwear for safely re-entering and cleaning a home that may have been impacted by a fire.

Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

Be sure you’re signed up to receive emergency alerts from local, regional, and national public safety authorities so you’ll be able to stay abreast of wildfire notifications, evacuation orders, and other real-time information in the event a blaze impacts your area. Keep a cell phone charged at all times as part of your emergency plan, and consider obtaining a NOAA Weather Radio as well for keeping track of fire-weather notifications.

Image by Paul from Pixabay

Doing Your Part to Prevent a Wildfire

As the National Park Service notes, close to 85% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans. Everyone can and should do their part to minimize the chances of sparking a wildfire. During peak season, firefighting and land management agencies often have their hands full with natural lightning-caused blazes, and adding human-ignited fires to the mix can greatly strain resources.

Abide by all current regulations regarding open flames, whether it’s a town- or county-wide ban on using fire pits or charcoal grills or a temporary campfire restriction on public lands. Even when and where campfires are allowed, keep yours small and manageable and make sure it’s properly extinguished (dead out!). These are basic Leave No Trace principles you should always follow.

Also beware of dragging chains, cigarettes, and other possible ignition sources under fire-prone conditions. Don’t drive or park on dry vegetation.

The National Weather Service issues fire weather watches and advisories that are essential to keep track of. A Fire Weather Watch is a “be prepared” alert, indicating the possibility of critical fire-weather conditions (such as high winds and low relative humidity or abundant dry lightning) developing soon. A Red Flag Warning is a “take action” issuance, referring to critical fire-weather conditions shortly to occur or already underway. Under Fire Weather Watches or Red Flag Warnings, it’s especially important to do everything you can to avoid sparking a wildfire, given how primed the environment is for new ignitions and amped-up behavior in any existing fires.

Safety During & After a Wildfire

Staying safe during and after a wildfire requires careful attention and preparedness to protect yourself and your surroundings from potential hazards.

How to Stay Safe During a Wildfire

If a wildfire is impacting your area, it goes without saying you should keep abreast of emergency alerts, such as evacuation notices and “Go Now” orders. Don’t hesitate to evacuate if told to do so by authorities: Wildfires, especially those exhibiting extreme fire behavior, can encroach with terrifying speed. They can behave and move erratically and unpredictably and even generate their own weather.

The websites and emergency apps of organizations such as FEMA and the American Red Cross can help notify you of the closest public emergency shelters. You can keep track of current wildfires via online resources such as the National Interagency Fire Center’s Inciweb site.

Smoke inhalation is a major associated problem during wildfires, and even if an active blaze isn’t close to your area, you may be impacted by unpleasant and even dangerous haze from distant burns. Keep track of smoke forecasts and air-quality advisories. Stay indoors if possible when unhealthy amounts of smoke are present, use an indoor air purifier, seal windows, and wear an N95 mask or respirator if you need to go outside or are experiencing indoor air quality issues. Having a room in your house that can be completely closed off from outside air is a good precaution to take.

If you’re trapped in your home or vehicle by wildfire, call 911 and turn on lights to make yourself more visible to rescuers.

Post-Wildfire Safety Precautions

If you’ve evacuated because of a wildfire, don’t return home until authorities have proclaimed it safe to do so. When you do, keep clear of smoldering materials, charred vegetation, and ash, all of which may still be dangerous hot spots and capable of reigniting.

Inventory and take photos of any fire damage and get in touch with your insurance company. Wear protective clothing and a mask or respirator while assessing and cleaning your home.

Keep Wildfire Safety in Mind Year-Round

Whether it’s periodically evaluating your home and yardscape to maintain your defensible space or practicing your disaster plan with all members of the household, you should always have the next wildfire season in mind. Remember that Mountain House offers a full range of emergency food kits and pouches with an industry-leading shelf life to ensure your disaster kit is fully stocked!