Wildfire Safety: How to Prepare for the Wildfire Season

Do you live in an area that's prone to wildfires? If so, you should prepare for the wildfire season. The month of August is typically considered the peak of wildfire season. It's the hottest and driest month for most wildfire-prone states. As a result, small fires can quickly spiral out of control. While you can't prevent wildfires from occurring, you can stay safe by preparing in advance.

Identify Evacuation Routes

One of the most important things you can do to prepare for the wildfire season is to identify evacuation routes. There are should be evacuation routes designated for your area. During a wildfire, officials will open the routes so that residents can quickly leave. If you don't know where the evacuation routes are located, you should identify them. Familiarizing yourself with the evacuation routes can keep you safe during a wildfire.

Get a Portable Emergency Radio

Assuming you don't already have one, you should get a portable emergency radio. Wildfires can cause power outages. And when the power goes out, you may not receive a warning to leave the area. A portable emergency ratio will allow you to listen to emergency broadcasts, including wildfire evacuation warnings. Just remember to choose a portable emergency radio that runs on batteries and not a corded connection to a wall outlet.

Invest in an Air Cleaner

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of an air cleaner to prepare for wildfires. Air cleaners are devices that, as the name suggests, clean the air. You can install an air cleaner in your living room. If there's a wildfire nearby, the air cleaner will prevent smoke from building up inside of your living room.

Prepare a Water Hose

You should prepare a water hose in case of a wildfire. With a water hose, you can douse nearby trees -- as well as your home itself -- in water, which may prevent them from igniting. However, you may need a longer-than-average water hose to reach these places. Standard garden hoses are typically short, making them somewhat restrictive.

Remove Combustible Brush From Around Your Home

Another tip to prepare for the wildfire season is to remove combustible brush from around your home. Combustible brush consists of any plant matter that can burn. Leaves, pine straw, branches and fallen limbs are all combustible. Turning a blind eye to combustible brush could result in a wildfire making its way towards your home.