When an evacuation is anticipated, it's important to act fast. Review the following pre-evacuation checklist and keep it with your emergency supplies in order to give your home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.

Home Pre-Evacuation Checklist

Inside Your Home

• Have your emergency supply kit ready to go.
• Prepare a wildfire action plan ahead of time.
• Make sure you know your community’s emergency response plan. Have a plan on where to go when it is time to evacuate and learn the best routes for leaving your location.
• Close all windows and doors, but leave them unlocked.
• Remove flammable window shades and curtains.
• Close metal shutters.
• Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.
• Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights.
• Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house in smoke.
• Shut off your air conditioner.

Outside Your Home

• Gather up flammable items outside your home, such as patio furniture and children's toys, and bring them inside.
• Turn off propane tanks.
• Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures.
• Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around your home.
• Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running.
• Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or at night.
• Put your emergency supply kit in your vehicle.
• Back your car into the driveway and keep doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you.
• Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof.
• Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened.
• Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave.
• Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.

Animals

• Locate your pets and keep them nearby.
• Prepare farm animals for transport and think about moving them to a safe location early.