Wildfire Emergency Preparedness: Essential Information and Safety Tips

Wildfires, also known as bush fires or brush fires, are a significant and growing threat to communities around the world. Understanding the risks and knowing how to prepare and respond can make the difference between life and death. Here’s what you need to know about wildfire emergency preparedness. Risk perception, risk taking and risk avoidance behavior: all come into play when it comes to brush fires.

The Danger of Wildfires

Wildfires are incredibly dangerous and unpredictable. They can kill a significant number of people and force mass evacuations. In North America, up to three million people have evacuated due to wildfires. In Australia, the debate over whether to stay and defend property or evacuate has been ongoing for more than 50 years. Statistics show that staying to defend is highly risky and can result in higher fatalities.

Researchers face challenges in studying wildfire fatalities because they can’t interview victims who perished in the fires. This makes it difficult to determine the precise circumstances and decisions that led to their deaths. Despite these challenges, the consensus is clear: the safest option is to evacuate early and avoid the path of the fire.

Protecting Yourself and Your Family

Community Preparedness

Preparing for a wildfire involves a combination of personal and community efforts. Here are some key steps you can take:

• Clean Up Your Property: Remove brush, leaves, and other combustible materials from around your home.
• Create Defensible Space: Maintain a buffer zone between your home and the surrounding vegetation.
• Plan an Exit Strategy: Know your evacuation routes and have a plan for where you will go if you need to leave quickly.

Urban Areas and Wildfires

It’s crucial to integrate wildfire preparedness into urban emergency plans. Many cities are adjacent to forests and wilderness areas, making them susceptible to wildfires. Unfortunately, urban plans often overlook the threat of wildfires.

In Australia, one controversial method involves creating a zigzag trench and placing logs over it to provide a small breathing space during a fire. However, this method is dangerous and not recommended. Instead, focus on evacuation as the safest strategy.

The Importance of Evacuation

When a wildfire threatens your area, evacuation is the most reliable way to ensure your safety. For example, you would think in a big brush fire you could fill the bathtub full of water sit in there, go to an outdoor a source of water stream lake or a water tower. It’s 800 degrees, the water will boil and that will be as dangerous as the fire to you. Thus, what the academic literature says is finding a safe refuge, which is not a great idea.

Evacuation Tips:

• Leave Early: Do not wait until the last minute to evacuate. Traffic congestion and impassable roads can trap you in a dangerous situation.
• Go Bags: Prepare an emergency kit with essentials such as water, food, medications, important documents, and clothing.
• Stay Informed: Monitor local news and weather updates for the latest information on the fire’s progression and evacuation orders.

Stay or Defend?

In Canada and the U.S., the standard advice is to evacuate. However, in Australia, some people choose to stay and defend their property. That’s an individual decision, but are you qualified to stay and defend? The heat can cause buildings to explode in a fire. Question yourself about whether staying and defending is viable.

Practical Defensive Measures

• Rooftop Sprinklers: to help protect your home from flying embers.
• Fire-Resistant Landscaping: Use non-combustible materials such as rocks and create a defensible space around your property (xeroscaping).
• Understanding Heat Types: Know the difference between convective heat (direct flames) and radiant heat (heat from a distance). Both can be deadly.

Even then, the best strategy is the “find an exit” strategy to stay alive.

Wildfires are a severe threat that requires thorough preparation and prompt action. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to evacuate early and avoid the fire’s path. While some may consider staying to defend their property, this decision should be made by professionals.

To deepen your understanding of crisis management and emergency preparedness, consider reading the book “Emergency! Quarantine, Evacuation, and Back Again” or “Safer Cities of the Future”.

Stay safe, stay informed, and always be prepared.