Southern California is a tinder box! Brush fires can break out almost any time of the year. Explosive fuels, high winds, and dry heat spell disaster! Brush fire safety is extremely important. The LAFD and members of CERT, the Community Emergency Response Team, want you to be ready by following an advance “ready, set, go” plan in an emergency. Watch as members of the LAFD explain how you can prepare and protect your family and loved ones in case of disaster.
Brush fire safety: Be prepared
All it takes is an ember to start a small fire which can explode into a disaster and cause death and destruction. You must be prepared to leave your home quickly for survival. Most importantly you have to know how to escape, where you’re going, and how you’ll be able to survive.
One of the primary threats to your home? According to the National Fire Protection Association, embers and small flames are the main way the majority of homes ignite in wildfires. Embers are burning pieces of airborne wood and/or vegetation that can be carried more than a mile through the wind. These flying embers can ignite homes and keep the fire spreading.
Southern California: Prone to burn
“The biggest thing about brushfires… is the prevention of,” says LAFD CERT medic and team leader Scott Boyett.
“It is making sure, if you have a house, maybe in San Bernardino, or Riverside County, is making sure you clip things back, you keep it farther away from your house. That’s a big thing, because once (fires) start, they are shockingly fast. I’m sure you’ve seen the videos on line, watching a fire starting, watching it come across a ridge.”
What are the two things that fire needs to spread quickly? Scott says, “A fire needs 2 things, fuel and air. Fuel and oxygen to live. It’s a living breathing thing. If you keep the fuel away, then that’s one part of the equation, that keeps it from growing.”
Join the LAFD Community Emergency Response Team
LAFD Captain I Dustin Gates, who is the CERT program manager, says if you take a CERT emergency preparedness class, you’ll be ready for anything.
“For brushfires we teach CERT members about preparedness in the neighborhood. Brush clearance around their home, make sure they’re safe for a brushfire.”
When you take the CERT classes, you learn a lot more than just brush fire safety, says Dustin.
“So over seven weeks we start with the basics of home safety. We’ll transition into a medical component, we can teach them to care for themselves, their family and others after a disaster. Splinting, bandaging, and just assessing a person. We teach them about shutting off utilities at their home or a gas meter or their water meter or even shutting off the power to their home. We can teach people after a major disaster if there’s a downed powerline, safety around down power lines and what to look out for.”
“We like to tell people just how to be safe after an emergency. And also, before the emergencies. We teach people about smoke detectors in their home, how to check those batteries, carbon dioxide detectors. So, we like to prepare people for anything they can encounter in their home or community where they live.”
Brush Fire Safety Tips
With the risk of wildfires year-round there are things thing you can do to prepare. Here is a link to the LAFD tips to help you plan, prepare and act. Here are additional tips provided by the National Fire Protection Association:
In and around your home
- Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks. This prevents embers from igniting your home.
- Remove dead vegetation and other items from under your deck or porch, and within 200 feet of the house.
- Don’t let debris and lawn cuttings linger. Dispose of these items quickly to reduce fuel for fire.
- Inspect shingles or roof tiles. Replace or repair those that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration.
- Learn more about how to protect your home and property at www.firewise.org.
Creating an emergency plan
- Assemble an emergency supply kit and place it in a safe spot. Remember to include important documents, medications and personal identification.
- Develop an emergency evacuation plan and practice it with everyone in your home.
- Plan two ways out of your neighborhood and designate a meeting place.
In your community
- Contact your local planning/zoning office to find out if your home is in a high wildfire risk area, and if there are specific local or county ordinances you should be following.
- If you are part of a homeowner association, work with them to identify regulations that incorporate proven preparedness landscaping, home design and building material use.
- Talk to your local fire department about how to prepare, when to evacuate, and the response you and your neighbors can expect in the event of a wildfire.
- Learn about wildfire risk reduction efforts, including how land management agencies use prescribed fire to manage local landscapes.
- Learn how you can make a positive difference in your community.
During the time a wildfire is in your area…
- Stay aware of the latest news and updates from your local media and fire department. Get your family, home and pets prepared to evacuate.
- Place your emergency supply kit and other valuables in your vehicle.
- Move patio or deck furniture, cushions, door mats and potted plants in wooden containers either indoors or as far away from the home, shed and garage as possible.
- Close and protect your home’s openings, including attic and basement doors and vents, windows, garage doors and pet doors to prevent embers from penetrating your home.
- Leave as early as possible, before you’re told to evacuate. Do not linger once evacuation orders have been given. Promptly leaving your home and neighborhood clears roads for firefighters to get equipment in place to fight the fire, and helps ensure residents’ safety.
After a wildfire has been contained…
- Continue to listen to news updates for information about the fire. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
- Visit FEMA/Ready.gov for more information regarding wildfire after an emergency.
The Red Cross provides additional information, click here to learn more.
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