Preparing for Wildfires
Take steps now to prepareexternal icon [PDF-205 KB] for wildfires. More and more people make their homes in areas that are prone to wildfires. You can take steps to be readyexternal icon for a wildfire and prepare your home and landscapingexternal icon to reduce your risk from a wildfire.
Know your community’s evacuation plans.
- Find several ways to leave your area.
- Drive the evacuation routes and find shelter locations.
- Have a plan for petsexternal icon [PDF-368 KB] and livestockexternal icon [PDF-378 KB].
Gather emergency supplies, such as respiratorsexternal icon [PDF-329 KB].
- A respirator filters out smoke or ash before you can breathe it in. Respirators are not made to fit children.
- Remember the needs of childrenexternal icon [PDF-497 KB], pregnant women, and individuals with medical conditions like asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or heart disease.
View a full-sized image [PDF – 345 KB] of the Be Ready: Wildfires Infographic. Share it on social media or print it out to post in your office, school, or home.
Plan to keep wildfire smoke outside.
- Choose a roomexternal icon you can close off from outside air.
- Set up a portable air cleaner or a filterexternal icon to keep the air in this room cleaner even when it’s smoky outdoors or in the rest of your home.
- Make a plan to keep wildfire smoke out of schools or commercial buildingsexternal icon.
Keep track of fires near you so you can be ready.
- AirNow’s “Fires: Current Conditions pageexternal icon” has a map of fires throughout North America.
- NOAA’s “Fire weather outlookexternal icon” page maps fire watches and warnings.
- Listen to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio for emergency alerts.
Page last reviewed: June 11, 2021