Wildfire - Are You Prepared?

Every year across our Nation, some homes survive - while many others do not - after a major wildfire. Those that survive almost always do so because their owners had prepared for the eventuality of fire, which is an inescapable force of nature in fire-prone wildland areas. Said in another way - if it's predictable, it's preventable!

Wildfires often begin unnoticed. They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees, and homes. Reduce your risk by preparing now - before wildfire strikes. Meet with your family to decide what to do and where to go if wildfires threaten your area. Follow the steps listed below to protect your family, home, and property.

Practice Wildfire Safety

People start most wildfires - find out how you can promote and practice wildfire safety.

Contact your local fire department, health department, or forestry office for information on fire laws. Make sure that fire vehicles can get to your home. Clearly mark all driveway entrances and display your name and address. Report hazardous conditions that could cause a wildfire. Teach children about fire safety. Keep matches out of their reach. Post fire emergency telephone numbers. Ensure adequate accessibility by large fire vehicles to your property. Plan several escape routes away from your home - by car and by foot. Talk to your neighbors about wildfire safety. Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a wildfire. Make a list of your neighbors' skills such as medical or technical. Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans to take care of children who may be on their own if parents can't get home.

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Before Wildfire Threatens

Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel it. Use fire-resistant or noncombustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of the dwelling, or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking, or trim with fire-retardant chemicals evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees.

Your best resource for proper planning is firewise.org which has outstanding information used daily by residents, property owners, fire departments, community planners, builders, public policy officials, water authorities, architects and others to assure safety from fire - it really works. Firewise workshops are offered for free all across the Nation in communities large and small and free Firewise materials can be obtained easily by anyone interested.

Create a 30- to 100-foot safety zone around your home

Within this area, you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant heat. Homes built in pine forests should have a minimum safety zone of 100 feet. If your home sits on a steep slope, standard protective measures may not suffice. Contact your local fire department or forestry office for additional information.

• Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation.
• Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures.
• Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns, and remove limbs within 15 feet of the ground.
• Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.
• Prune tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.
• Ask the power company to clear branches from powerlines.
• Remove vines from the walls of the home.
• Mow grass regularly.
• Clear a 10-foot area around propane tanks and the barbecue. Place a screen over the grill - use nonflammable material with mesh no coarser than one-quarter inch.
• Regularly dispose of newspapers and rubbish at an approved site. Follow local burning regulations.
• Place stove, fireplace and grill ashes in a metal bucket, soak in water for 2 days; then bury the cold ashes in mineral soil.
• Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved safety cans. Place cans in a safe location away from the base of buildings.
• Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Clear combustible material within 20 feet. Use only wood-burning devices evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Protect your home

• Regularly clean roof and gutters.
• Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them at least once a year. Keep the dampers in good working order. Equip chimneys and stovepipes with a spark arrester that meets the requirements of National Fire Protection Association Standard 211. (Contact your local fire department for exact specifications.)
• Use 1/8-inch mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas, and the home itself. Also, screen openings to floors, roof and attic.
• Install a dual-sensor smoke alarm on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries at least once each year.
• Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher (ABC type) and show them where it's kept.
• Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe, handsaw or chain saw, bucket and shovel.
• Keep a ladder that will reach the roof.
• Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes.

Plan your water needs

• Identify and maintain an adequate outside water source such as a small pond, cistern, well, swimming pool, or hydrant.
• Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other structures on the property.
• Install freeze-proof exterior water outlets on at least two sides of the home and near other structures on the property. Install additional outlets at least 50 feet from the home.
• Consider obtaining a portable gasoline powered pump in case electrical power is cut off.

When Wildfire Threatens

If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area, listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the instructions of local officials.

• Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. Leave the key in the ignition. Close garage windows and doors, but leave them unlocked. Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
• Confine pets to one room. Make plans to care for your pets in case you must evacuate.
• Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relative's home outside the threatened area.

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately

• Wear protective clothing - sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothing, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to protect your face.
• Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.
• Lock your home.
• Tell someone when you left and where you are going.
• Choose a route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of fire and smoke.

If you're sure you have time, take steps to protect your home

Inside:

• Close windows, vents, doors, blinds, or noncombustible window coverings and heavy drapes. Remove lightweight curtains.
• Shut off all utilities if possible, including bottled gas.
• Open fireplace damper. Close fireplace screens.
• Move flammable furniture into the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass doors.
• Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke.

Outside:

• Seal attic and ground vents with precut noncombustible coverings.
• Turn off propane tanks.
• Place combustible patio furniture inside.
• Connect the garden hose to outside taps.
• Set up a portable gasoline-powered pump.
• Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near aboveground fuel tanks. Wetting the roof may help if it is shake-shingled.
• Wet or remove shrubs within 15 feet of the home.
• Gather fire tools.

Emergency Supplies

When wildfire threatens, you won't have time to shop or search for supplies. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need if advised to evacuate. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffle bags, or trash containers.

Include:

• A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won't spoil.
• One change of clothing and footwear per person and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.
• A first aid kit that includes your family's prescription medications.
• Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries.
• An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, or traveler's checks.
• Sanitation supplies.
• Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.
• An extra pair of eye-glasses.
• Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Assemble a smaller version of your kit to keep in the trunk of your car.

Create a Family Disaster Plan

Wildfire and other types of disasters - hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake, hazardous materials spill, winter storm - can strike quickly and without warning. You can cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together. Meet with your family to create a disaster plan. To get started:

Contact your local Emergency Management Agency or your local American Red Cross chapter

• Find out about the hazards in your community.
• Ask how you would be warned.
• Find out how to prepare for each type of disaster.

Meet with your family

• Discuss the types of disasters that could occur.
• Explain how to prepare and respond to each type of disaster.
• Discuss where to go and what to bring if advised to evacuate.
• Practice what you have discussed.

Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by disaster

• Pick two meeting places:
  • a place a safe distance from your home in case of a home fire.
  • a place outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home.
• Choose an out-of-state friend as a "check-in contact" for everyone to call.

Complete these steps and then practice and review these steps!

• Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone.
• Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas, and electricity at main switches.
• Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.
• Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for information and training.

The First 24 Hours - Securing Yourself and The Site

Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army, to help with your immediate needs, such as:

• temporary housing
• food
• medicine
• eyeglasses
• clothing
• other essential items

Contact your insurance agent/company.

Cautions!!!

Do not enter the damaged site. Fires can rekindle from hidden, smoldering remains.

Normally, the fire department will see that utilities (water, electricity and natural gas) are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. Do not attempt to turn on utilities yourself.

Be watchful for structural damage caused by the fire. Roofs and floors may be damaged and subject to collapse.

Food, beverages and medicine exposed to heat, smoke, soot and water should not be consumed.

Leaving Your Home

Contact your local police departments to let them know the site will be unoccupied.

In some cases it may be necessary to board up openings to discourage trespassers.

Beginning immediately, save receipts for any money you spend. These receipts are important in showing the insurance company what money you have spent related to your fire loss and also for verifying losses claimed on your income tax.

If it is safe to do so, try to locate the following items:

• identification, such as driver's licenses and Social Security cards
• insurance information
• medication information
• eyeglasses,hearing aids or other prosthetic devices
• valuables, such as credit cards, bank books, cash and jewelry

There are many people/entities that should be notified of your relocation, including:

• your insurance agent/company
• your mortgage company (also inform them of the fire)
• your family and friends
• your employer
• your child's school
• your post office
• any delivery services
• your fire and police departments
• our utility companies

Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made. All damages are taken into consideration in developing your insurance claim.

If you are considering contracting for inventory or repair services discuss your plans with your insurance agent/company first.

Health Threat From Wildfire Smoke

How to tell if smoke is affecting you

Smoke can cause—

Coughing A scratchy throat Irritated sinuses Shortness of breath Chest pain Headaches Stinging eyes A runny nose Asthma exacerbations

If you have heart or lung disease, smoke might make your symptoms worse.

People who have heart disease might experience—

• Chest pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue

Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in the following ways:

• Inability to breathe normally
• Cough with or without mucus
• Chest discomfort
• Wheezing and shortness of breath

When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience some of these symptoms.

Know whether you are at risk

If you have heart or lung disease, such as congestive heart failure, angina, COPD, emphysema, or asthma, you are at higher risk of having health problems than healthy people.

Older adults are more likely to be affected by smoke, possibly because they are more likely to have heart or lung diseases than younger people.

Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke because their airways are still developing and because they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Children also are more likely to be active outdoors.

Protect yourself

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Limit your exposure to smoke. Following are ways to protect your health:

Pay attention to local air quality reports. Listen and watch for news or health warnings about smoke. Find out if your community provides reports about the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index (AQI). Also pay attention to public health messages about taking additional safety measures.

Refer to visibility guides if they are available. Not every community has a monitor that measures the amount of particles that are in the air. In the western part of the United States, some communities have guidelines to help people estimate AQI based on how far they can see.

If you are advised to stay indoors, keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.

Do not add to indoor pollution. When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns, such as candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves. Do not vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Do not smoke, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.

Follow your doctor's advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease, Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper "comfort" or "dust" masks commonly found at hardware stores are designed to trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your lungs from smoke. An “N95” mask, properly worn, will offer some protection. For more information about effective masks, see the Respirator fact sheet provided by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Safe evacuation

As you evacuate and then return home, be cautious and take the same safety measures you would when there is no emergency: buckle up and do not drink and drive. See CDC’s Impaired Driving fact sheet for more information on these hazards.

Also, make sure that children are properly buckled up and in the rear seat. See CDC’s Child Passenger Safety fact sheet for more information.

Power outages

Power outages can be more than an inconvenience. See What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out for more information about carbon monoxide poisoning, food safety, safe drinking water, power line hazards and more.

Mass Casualties: Burns

Mass casualties and disasters such as explosions and fires can cause a variety of serious injuries, including burns. These can include thermal burns, which are caused by contact with flames, hot liquids, hot surfaces, and other sources of high heat as well as chemical burns and electrical burns. It is vital that people understand how to behave safely in mass casualty and fire situations, as well as comprehend basic principles of first aid for burn victims. For burns, immediate care can be lifesaving.

Note: Most victims of fires die from smoke or toxic gases, not from burns. This guideline covers burn injuries.

Background Information

• On average in the United States in 2004, someone died in a fire every 135 minutes, and someone was injured every 30 minutes.
• Each year in the United States, 1.1 million burn injuries require medical attention.
  • Approximately 50,000 burn injuries require hospitalization;
  • Approximately 20,000 are major burns involving at least 25 percent of the total body surface;
  • Approximately 4,500 of these people die.
• Up to 10,000 people in the United States die every year of burn-related infections.
• Only 60 percent of Americans have an escape plan, and of those, only 25 percent have practiced it.
• Smoke alarms cut your chances of dying in a fire in half.

Escape Information Safeguard Your Home

• Install smoke alarms on each floor of your home. One alarm must be outside a bedroom where you sleep.
• Change batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. (Never borrow smoke alarm batteries for other purposes).
• Keep emergency phone numbers and other pertinent information posted close to your telephone.
• Draw a floor plan and find two exits from each room. Windows can serve as emergency exits.
• Practice getting out of the house through the various exits.
• Designate a meeting place at a safe distance outside the home.
• Respond to every alarm as if it were a real fire.
• Call the fire department after escaping. Tell them your address and do not hang up until you are told to do so. Let them know if anyone is trapped inside.
• Never go back into a burning building to look for missing people, pets, property, etc. Wait for firefighters.

Hotel and Workplace Fire Safety

• Become familiar with exits and posted evacuation plans each time you enter a building.
• Learn the location of all building exits. You may have to find your way out in the dark.
• Ensure that fire exits are unlocked and clear of debris.
• All buildings, whether homes, workplaces or hotels, should have working smoke alarm systems. Make sure you know what the alarm sounds like.
• Respond to every alarm as if it were a real fire. If you hear an alarm, leave immediately and close doors behind you as you go.
• Establish an outside meeting place where everyone can meet after they have escaped.
• Call the fire department after escaping. Tell them your address and do not hang up until you are told to do so. Let them know if anyone is trapped inside.
• Never go back into a burning building to look for missing people, pets, property, etc. Wait for firefighters.

If You Are Trapped in a Burning Building

• Smoke rises, so crawl low to the ground where the air will be cleanest.
• Get out quickly if it is safe to leave. Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth (moist if possible).
• Test doorknobs and spaces around doors with the back of your hand. If the door is warm, try another escape route. If it is cool, open it slowly. Check to make sure your escape path is clear of fire and smoke.
• Use the stairs. Never use an elevator during a fire.
• Call the fire department for assistance if you are trapped. If you cannot get to a phone, yell for help out the window. Wave or hang a sheet or other large object to attract attention.
• Close as many doors as possible between yourself and the fire. Seal all doors and vents between you and the fire with rags, towels, or sheets. Open windows slightly at the top and bottom, but close them if smoke comes in.

First Aid

What you do to treat a burn in the first few minutes after it occurs can make a huge difference in the severity of the injury.

Immediate Treatment for Burn Victims

• “Stop, Drop, and Roll” to smother flames.
• Remove all burned clothing. If clothing adheres to the skin, cut or tear around burned area.
• Remove all jewelry, belts, tight clothing, etc., from over the burned areas and from around the victim’s neck. This is very important; burned areas swell immediately.

Types of Burns

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns involve the top layer of skin. Sunburn is a first-degree burn.

Signs:

• Red
• Painful to touch
• Skin will show mild swelling

Treatment:

• Apply cool, wet compresses, or immerse in cool, fresh water. Continue until pain subsides.
• Cover the burn with a sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth.
• Do not apply ointments or butter to burn; these may cause infection.
• Over-the-counter pain medications may be used to help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
• First degree burns usually heal without further treatment. However, if a first-degree burn covers a large area of the body, or the victim is an infant or elderly, seek emergency medical attention.

Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree burns involve the first two layers of skin.

Signs:

• Deep reddening of the skin
• Pain
• Blisters
• Glossy appearance from leaking fluid
• Possible loss of some skin

Treatment:

• Immerse in fresh, cool water, or apply cool compresses. Continue for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Dry with clean cloth and cover with sterile gauze.
• Do not break blisters.
• Do not apply ointments or butter to burns; these may cause infection
• Elevate burned arms or legs.
• Take steps to prevent shock: lay the victim flat, elevate the feet about 12 inches, and cover the victim with a coat or blanket. Do not place the victim in the shock position if a head, neck, back, or leg injury is suspected, or if it makes the victim uncomfortable.
• Further medical treatment is required. Do not attempt to treat serious burns unless you are a trained health professional.

Third-Degree Burns

A third-degree burn penetrates the entire thickness of the skin and permanently destroys tissue.

Signs:

• Loss of skin layers
• Often painless. (Pain may be caused by patches of first- and second-degree burns which often surround third-degree burns).
• Skin is dry and leathery
• Skin may appear charred or have patches which appear white, brown or black

Treatment:

• Cover burn lightly with sterile gauze or clean cloth. (Do not use material that can leave lint on the burn).
• Do not apply ointments or butter to burns; these may cause infection
• Take steps to prevent shock: lay the victim flat, elevate the feet about 12 inches.
• Have person sit up if face is burned. Watch closely for possible breathing problems.
• Elevate burned area higher than the victim’s head when possible. Keep person warm and comfortable, and watch for signs of shock.
• Do not place a pillow under the victim’s head if the person is lying down and there is an airway burn. This can close the airway.
• Immediate medical attention is required. Do not attempt to treat serious burns unless you are a trained health professional.

Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster

(NOTE: Health professionals should see Emergency Wound Management for Healthcare Professionals.)

The risk for injury during and after a hurricane and other natural disasters is high. Prompt first aid can help heal small wounds and prevent infection. Tetanus is a potential health threat for persons who have open wounds.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if:

• There is a foreign object embedded in the wound;

• The wound is at special risk of infection (such as a dog bite or a puncture by a dirty object);

• An old wound shows signs of becoming infected (increased pain and soreness, swelling, redness, draining, or you develop a fever).

How to Care for Minor Wounds

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean water if possible.
• Avoid touching the wound with your fingers while treating it (if possible, use disposable, latex gloves).
• Remove obstructive jewelry and clothing from the injured body part.
• Apply direct pressure to any bleeding wound to control bleeding.
• Clean the wound after bleeding has stopped.
  • Examine wounds for dirt and foreign objects.
  • Gently flood the wound with bottled water or clean running water (if available, saline solution is preferred).
  • Gently clean around the wound with soap and clean water.
  • Pat dry and apply an adhesive bandage or dry clean cloth.
• Leave unclean wounds, bites, and punctures open. Wounds that are not cleaned correctly can trap bacteria and result in infection.
• Provide pain relievers when possible.

Other Considerations

• Expect a variety of infection types from wounds exposed to standing water, sea life, and ocean water.
• Wounds in contact with soil and sand can become infected.
• Puncture wounds can carry bits of clothing and dirt into wounds and result in infection.
• Crush injuries are more likely to become infected than wounds from cuts.
• Take steps to prevent tetanus

If you have wounds, you should be evaluated for a tetanus immunization. If you receive a puncture wound or a wound contaminated with feces, soil, or saliva, have a health care professional determine whether a tetanus booster is necessary based on individual records.

Tetanus Prevention After a Disaster

Key points to remember

Patients without a clear history of at least three tetanus vaccinations who have any wound other than clean and minor NEED tetanus immune globulin (TIG) not just Td.

Tetanus in the United States is most commonly reported in older persons who are less likely to be adequately vaccinated than younger persons. In 2004, 71% of the 34 cases reported were among persons >40 years of age and 47% were among persons >60 years of age.

Older women are especially susceptible; a majority of those > 55 years of age do not have protective levels of tetanus antibody.

Diabetics are at increased risk. Reported tetanus is about 3 times more common in diabetics and fatalities are about 4 times more common.

Non-acute wounds (e.g., chronic ulcers, gangrene, abscesses/cellulitis) account for about 1 in 6 cases of reported tetanus; 1 in 12 reported cases had no reported injury or lesion.

Wound management

Routine vaccination

Booster shots of tetanus, diphtheria (Td) or tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) at age 11-12 and then every 10 years. (Tdap is preferred for adolescents 11-18 years of age.

Persons who did not receive DTP or DTaP as a child, or whose tetanus vaccination history is not known should receive a primary series of three doses of adult Td. The first two doses should be separated by 4 weeks and the third dose should follow the second by at least 6 months. For persons 11-64 years of age Tdap may be substituted for ONE of these doses, preferably the first dose. Tdap should be substituted for ONE of these doses for persons 11-18 years of age.