Wildfire emergency evacuation preparation

With a wildfire spreading in the Willow area, be prepared in case you need to evacuate. There is nothing you own that is worth your life! Please evacuate immediately when asked by firefighters and law enforcement officials.

When you evacuate, wear only cotton or wool clothes. Choose long pants, long sleeve shirt, a hat and boots. Carry gloves, a handkerchief to cover your face, water to drink and goggles. Keep a flashlight and portable radio with you at all times. Tune in to the local radio station and listen for instructions.

If possible, evacuate all family members not essential to preparing the house for wildfire. Designate a safe meeting place and contact person. Evacuate pets and livestock whenever possible. Never turn the animals loose.

Prepare your car by placing vehicles in the garage, pointing out with the keys in the ignition. Roll up the windows. Close the garage door, but leave it unlocked.

If you can lift your garage door manually, disconnect the electric garage door opener. If not, park in your driveway facing out. Place essential items in the car.

Take with you important documents such as bank, trust, investment information, insurance policies, birth certificates, medical records, IRS paperwork. Take credit, debit and ATM cards, medications, prescription glasses, driver’s license or ID, passport, computer back up files, cell phone and charger, and address book. An inventory of home contents is helpful. Take personal toiletries and enough clothing for three to five days. Family photo albums and videos and family heirlooms are not easily replaceable so if there is time, pack them.

When leaving your home, close all interior doors. Remove lightweight, non-fire-resistant curtains and other combustible materials from around windows. Close fire-resistant drapes, shutters and blinds. Turn off all pilot lights. Move overstuffed furniture, such as couches and easy chairs, to the center of the room. Close the fireplace damper.

On the outside of your home, place combustible patio furniture in the house or garage. Shut off propane at the tank or natural gas at the meter. Close all exterior vents if possible. Prop a ladder against the house to provide firefighters with easy access to the roof. Make sure that all garden hoses are connected to faucets and that attached nozzles are set on “spray”.

Close all exterior doors and windows but leave the doors unlocked. Turn on outside lights. If available, and if there is time, cover windows, attic openings, and vents with plywood that is at least one-half inch thick.

Wet down wood shake or shingle roofs before leaving. Fill trashcans and buckets with water and place where firefighters can find them.

If you have an emergency water source such as a pond, and/or portable pump, clearly mark its availability so it can be seen from the road.

It will likely be dark, smoky, windy, and hot. There may be airborne burning embers, no power, no telephone service and poor water pressure.