How to escape from a quickly approaching wildfire
Wind-driven wildfires can move unbelievably fast, racing up hillsides, leaping canyons and sending burning embers flying miles ahead of the flame front. Residents may have only minutes to escape their neighborhood as the wildfire approaches, and for many, it may be the most terrifying experience of their life, buffeted by hurricane-force winds, with burning debris being blown through the air, and surrounded by heavy smoke that makes it hard to breath or see. It may also be the most dangerous experience of their lives. Every year, homeowners die in brushfires. Most are overcome by smoke while evacuating late as the flame front approaches their home, perish in an automobile accident while fleeing the wildfire, or are even caught by the fire while evacuated and are burned over.
Make sure you don’t become a statistic: Evacuate early or shelter in place.
If you choose to evacuate, begin gathering up your belongings as soon as officials announce the evacuation, and leave your home well in advance of the fire front’s approach. Not only will you keep yourself and your family safe, but you’ll leave the roads clear for firefighters who will be doing their best to protect your home from the oncoming wildfire. If fire trucks are stuck trying to get in as you’re trying to get out, it delays them from keeping your home from burning to the ground. Prepare in advance by creating a fire plan with your family, listing what each member of the family will do in the event of a fire emergency.
If you are not able to evacuate well in advance of the fire, tell firefighters on the scene where you are, then calmly prepare your home for the wildfire’s advance and shelter in place on an interior room of your home until the flame front has passed.
The LAFD has put together a really compelling video on wildfire evacuations. It is just four minutes long, and highly worth taking a look at.
Photo smokeshowing via Creative Commons
Leave a Reply 
Connect with Firescaping
