33 Fire Safety Up in Flames The threat of wildland fires for people living near wildland areas or using recreational facilities in wilderness areas is real. Dry conditions at various times of the year greatly increase the potential for wildland fires. Advance planning and knowing how to protect buildings in these areas can lessen the devastation of a wildland fire. Avalon Boulevard Brush Fire Simple Steps to Reducing Your Fire Risk What to do before a wildfire: • Make plans to care for your pets in case you must evacuate. • Back your car into the garage or park it in an open side facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. • Close windows, vents, doors, venetian blinds and heavy drapes. Remove lightweight curtains. • Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights. Turn off propane tanks. • Open fireplace damper. Close fireplace screens. • Move flammable furniture into center of the home away from windows and sliding-glass doors. Place combustible patio furniture inside. • Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke. • Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals. • Connect the garden hose to outside taps. • Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near above-ground fuel tanks. Wet the roof. Wet or remove shrubs within 15 feet of the home. • Don’t lock up. Leave doors and windows closed but unlocked. It may be necessary for firefighters to gain quick entry into your home to fight fire. The entire area will be isolated and patrolled by sheriff’s deputies or police. What to do during a wildfire: • Wear protective clothing, sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothing, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and handkerchief to protect your face. • The water you put into your pool or hot tub and other containers will come in handy now. If the power is out, try connecting a hose to the outlet on your water heater. • If you are told to evacuate, do so and take your disaster supply kit. • Tell someone when you leave and where you are going. • Choose a route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of fire and smoke. • Stay calm. As the fire front approaches, stay inside unless advised to evacuate by officials. What to do after a wildfire: • Check the roof immediately. Put out any roof fires, sparks or embers. Check the attic for hidden burning sparks. • For several hours after the fire, maintain a “fire watch.” Recheck for smoke and sparks throughout the house. • Monitor radio and TV for current information. • If you evacuate, return home only when authorities advise that it is safe. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home including outside bedrooms, stairways and the kitchen. Mark the entrance to your property with address signs that are clearly visible from the road. Keep lawns trimmed, leaves raked, and the roof and rain gutters free from debris. Remove branches hanging above and around the chimney. Stack firewood at least 30 feet away from your residence. Store flammable materials, liquids, and solvents in metal containers outside your residence at least 30 feet away from structures and wooden fences. Create defensible space by thinning trees and brush within 30 feet around your residence. Beyond 30 feet, remove dead wood, debris, and low tree branches. Make sure water sources, such as hydrants, ponds, swimming pools, and wells, are accessible to the fire department. Have chimneys, wood stoves, and all home heating systems inspected and cleaned annually by a certified specialist. To Escape a Fire Check closed doors for heat before you open them. If you are escaping through a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the top of the door, the doorknob, and the crack between the door and door frame before you open it. Never use the palm of your hand or fingers to test for heat, burning those areas could impair your ability to escape a fire. If the door is hot, do not open. Escape through a window. If you cannot escape, hang a white or light-colored sheet outside the window, alerting fire fighters to your presence. If the door is cool, open slowly and ensure fire and/or smoke is not blocking your escape route. If your escape route is blocked, shut the door immediately and use an alternate escape route, such as a window. If clear, leave immediately through the door and close it behind you. Be prepared to crawl. Smoke and heat rise. The air is clearer and cooler near the floor. If your clothes catch on fire, you should - Stop, Drop, and Roll - until the fire is extinguished. Running only makes the fire burn faster.
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