The thought of experiencing a fire emergency can feel frightening. But having a plan in place is empowering!

Wildfire Action Plan

Your Wildfire Action Plan must be prepared and familiar to all household members well in advance of a wildfire. Each family’s plan will be different, depending on various issues, needs, and situations. 
What is should include:

1. Meeting Point - Have a predetermined meeting location outside high-risk areas in case you are all not home at the start of the emergency.
2. Escape Routes - Have at least 2 escape routes out of your neighborhood. Practice these often so everyone in your family knows where to go.
3. Animal Arrangements - Specific arrangements for pets and larger animals, like horses and other livestock.
4. Communication Plan - A family communication strategy names someone outside the area to be the main contact point for all family members if you get separated or have trouble with phone networks.

Tips: 

• Consider your individual situation. Who is in your family and what are their specific needs? 
• Ensure that your family knows where your gas, electric, and water main shut-off controls are located and how to safely shut them down in an emergency.

1. People & pets
2. Papers, phone numbers & important documents
3. Prescriptions, vitamins & eyeglasses
4. Pictures & irreplaceable memorabilia
5. Personal computer, hard drive & disks
6. “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) & cash

Plans for Families with Children

A Parent’s Guide to Fire Safety for Babies and Toddlers
The U.S. Fire Administration’s information site for parents and caregivers to help prevent fire death of young children.

Smokey Kids
U.S. Forest Service’s interactive Smokey Bear site with games, information and resources on how to prevent forest fires.

Children's Colorado
Visit ChildrensColorado.org for tips on how to talk to kids about upsetting or scary news. 

Ready.gov Kids 
FEMA’s site for older kids to prepare and plan for a disaster. Includes safety steps, tips, and games to help children learn about and be ready for an emergency. 

Plans for Families with Older Adults or Family Members with Disabilities

Special Populations Fire-Safe Checklist
U.S. Fire Administration’s fire safety guide for individuals with special needs to help them protect themselves and their home from fire.

Disaster Preparedness for Senior by Seniors
The American Red Cross booklet designed by and for older adults to prepare them for a sudden emergency.

Emergency & Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities
American Red Cross Disaster Services booklet with information and resources to help people with physical, visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities design a personal disaster plan.

Personal Preparedness Guide
Resource site for people with disabilities that gives information on necessary supplies, evacuation procedures and how to assist pets and service animals in the event of a disaster.

Communication Plan

Communication networks such as cell phones, tablets, and laptops, could be unreliable during disasters, and electricity could be disrupted. Planning in advance will help ensure that all household members know how to reach each other and where to meet up in an emergency.

• Maintain a paper list of emergency contact numbers posted near your phone and in your emergency supply kit.
• Out-of-town contact needs to be identified and added to your plan.
• Identify a Meeting Place - Have one inside your neighborhood and outside the neighborhood if evacuated and cannot get back to your home. 

Text is Best
If you use a cell phone, a text message may get through when a phone call will not. A text message requires far less bandwidth than a phone call. Text messages may also save and send automatically when capacity becomes available.

Click HERE to Get "Tech Ready" with READY.GOV. 

Planning for Pets

Your pets are an important member of your family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan. To prepare for the unexpected follow these tips with your pets in mind:

1. Have a Plan for your Pet 
2. Build an Emergency kit 
3. Prepare Pets for Travel
 

Visit Ready.gov/pets for more Information on Planning with pets.
 

If You MUST Leave Your Pet

• Bring them indoors. Never leave pets chained outdoors! Use a room with no windows and adequate ventilation, such as a utility room, garage, bathroom, or other areas that can be easily cleaned. Do not tie pets up!
• Leave them Food and Water - Leave only dry foods and fresh water in non-spill containers. Open a faucet to let water drip into a large container or partially fill a bathtub with water.

Planning for Livestock

• It is important to clear defensible space around your barns, pastures, and property just as you do your home.
• Plan and know where you would evacuate the animals.
• Contact your local fairgrounds, stockyards, equestrian centers, friends, etc., about their policies and ability to take livestock temporarily in an emergency.
• Have several evacuation routes in mind.
• If you don’t have your own truck and trailer, make arrangements with local companies or neighbors before disaster strikes.
• Make sure your neighbor has your contact numbers (cell phone, work, home, etc.)
• Have vaccination/ medical records, registration papers, photographs of your animals (proof of ownership), and your Disaster Preparedness Kit.

Locate and prearrange an evacuation site for your animals outside of your immediate area. Possible sites include: show grounds, fairgrounds, veterinary colleges, racetracks, pastures, stables,  equestrian centers , livestock corrals,  stockyards, auction facilities or other boarding facilities. 

If you must leave your animals, put them in a preselected, cleared area. Leave enough hay for 48 to 72 hours. Do not rely on automatic watering systems as power may be lost.

Do not wait until the last minute to start evacuating your large animals. Evacuate early!