Being Ready for wildfire starts with maintaining an adequate defensible space and hardening your home using fire-resistant building materials. Defensible space is the buffer you create by removing dead plants, grass, and weeds. This buffer helps to keep the fire away from your home. Hardening your home means using construction materials that can help your home withstand flying embers and finding weak spots in the construction, which can result in your house catching fire. It takes the combination of both Defensible space and the hardening of your home to give it the best chance of surviving a wildfire.

Before wildfire strikes, you must get Set. Prepare yourself and your home for the possibility of having to evacuate. Three main preparation actions should be completed and familiar to all household members before a wildfire.

Steps to Getting Set:

Give your household the best chance of surviving a wildfire by being ready to go and evacuating early. This includes going through pre-evacuation preparation steps (only if time allows) to increase your home’s defenses and create a Wildfire Action Plan for your family. Being ready to go also means knowing when to evacuate and what to do if you become trapped.

Remember: When immediate evacuation is necessary, follow these
steps as soon as possible to get ready to GO! 

• Review your Evacuation Plan Checklist.
• Ensure your Emergency Supply Kits in your vehicle.
• Cover-up to protect against heat and flying embers. Wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, heavy shoes/boots, a cap, a dry bandana for face cover, goggles, or glasses. 100% cotton is preferable.
• Locate your pets and take them with you.