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Four out of five forest fires are started by people. Between 1916 and 1996 an average of 140,000 wildfires took place per year in the United States. Wildfires burned an average of 14.5 million acres each year during that period.
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Some fires are healthy for the ecosystem, maintaining natural habitats that depend on periodic burning. Controlled, or prescribed burns, are carefully planned and managed by wildland fire experts. However, the culprit in wildfires is often human negligence, such as unsafe campfire practices. For campfire safety, visit the USDA Forest Service's Web site. |
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 A wildfire is an unwanted, non-beneficial fire that rapidly spreads on hillsides and in valleys, prairies or forests. Wildfires are a threat to homes, particularly those located in wildland settings near forests, in rural areas, and in the mountains. It's important to know what to do before, during, and after a wildfire:
Before...
Homes are threatened by wildfires in two main ways: direct threats occur when burning vegetation or other materials near the home touches a part of it and sets it on fire; indirect threats occur from flying embers igniting a flammable part of a home.
Create a safe environment:
- Fire safety should begin in the home. Families should have working smoke alarms and an escape plan. For home fire safety information visit the Fire and Burn Prevention section of the Risk Watch: Unintentional Injuries Web site.
- Create safety zones to protect your home from wildfires. A safety zone is an area that separates the home from combustible plants and vegetation and helps prevent direct and indirect sources of fire from threatening a home or property. (For more information on making your home safe, visit the Firewise Web site.)
- Have an evacuation plan. Plan several evacuation routes away from the area, including routes by car and by foot. Select a place far from the house where family members can meet. Practice the evacuation plan twice a year.
- Establish an out-of-area contact (such as a relative or family friend) who can coordinate family members' locations and information should you become separated. Make sure children learn the phone numbers and addresses, and know the emergency plans.
- Prepare a family disaster supplies kit. Families
with children should have each child create their own personal
pack.
During...
- Listen to the radio or TV for information on evacuation.
- Prepare pets for evacuation by having carriers and leashes within easy reach.
- Shut off gas in the home and close fireplace screens and dampers. Close windows and interior doors.
- Move flammable furniture to the center of the home, away from windows and doors.
- Place sprinklers on the home's roof and around other flammable structures.
- Remove combustible materials from the home and wet the grass and shrubs within 15 feet of the home.
If you must evacuate, lock your home and tell relatives and friends outside the wildfire area when you are leaving and where you are going. When you get to a safe place, call the fire department.
After...
Continue to listen to news updates for information about when it's safe to return home. Watch for downed power lines and burned trees and poles that may fall. Steer clear of ash pits, which are holes filled with hot ashes. Look for the following things when entering your home after a wildfire:
- Check the roof and each floor of the home (including the attic) for smoke, sparks, and embers.
- Inspect floors, ceilings, and the roof for structural damage.
- Have heating, propane, and water systems tested.
- Throw away items that have been contaminated by fire or smoke (such as medicines and food).
Date source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service
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