Wildfires

More and more people are making their homes in wooded settings near forests and remote mountains sites. There, homeowners enjoy the beauty of the environment, but face the very real danger of wildfires. They spread quickly and change direction rapidly, igniting brush, trees and homes.

Before A Wildfire

  • Stay aware throughout the year
    • Have several ways to receive warnings and alerts. Have Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) on your phone turned on.
    • Learn your risk. In Georgia, the fire season is during the dry and windy months of February through May.
    • Learn and teach safe fire practices.
    • Learn about the history of wildfires in your area. For more information about wildfire in Georgia, visit the Georgia Forestry Commission.
    • Be aware of recent weather. A long period without rain increases the risk of wildfire.
  • Make an emergency plan
    • A wildfire may happen when family members are in different places, so create a family communications plan.
    • Make a Ready kit for at least three days of self-sufficiency and prepare a portable Ready kit in case you have to evacuate.
    • If available, store an N95 mask to protect yourself from smoke inhalation.
    • Plan ahead for your pets. Shelters cannot accept pets due to health reasons, so it’s important to find a pet-friendly hotel or make arrangements with family or friends in advance.
    • Plan several escape routes away from your home, by car and by foot.
  • Prepare your home
    • Use fire-resistant materials when building, renovating or retrofitting structures.
    • Keep leaves and needles off your roof and deck, and clean gutters regularly.
    • Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind and create a 30 to 100 foot safety zone around your home by keeping flammable vegetation in this area to a minimum.
    • Trim branches that overhang structures and prune branches of large trees within 15 feet from the ground.
    • Thin a 15 foot space between tree crowns.
    • Remove debris from under decks and porches.
    • Clear combustible material within 20 feet of your home.
    • Install spark arrestors in chimneys and stovepipes that meet the requirements of National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 (Contact your local fire department for exact specifications).
    • Identify and maintain an adequate outside water source, such as a pool or small pond.
    • Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other structures on the property.
    • Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe, handsaw or chainsaw, bucket and shovel.

Visit Firewise USA for more information on how to prepare your home for a wildfire.

During a Wildfire

  • Pay attention to emergency alerts and notifications for information and instructions.
    • Avoid roads around the fire where equipment, trucks, and personnel continue to position and reposition to safely and aggressively fight the fire.
  • Evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to do so. 
    • Check with local authorities for the latest information about public shelters or check open locations on the FEMA app. You can also download the free Red Cross Emergency app for a list of open Red Cross shelters in your area.
    • Consider making plans with friends or family to shelter with them where you may be safer and more comfortable.
  • If trapped, call 9-1-1 and give your location, but be aware that emergency response could be delayed or impossible. Turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
  • Use an N95 mask to protect yourself from smoke inhalation or limit your exposure to smoke by doing the following:
    • Choose a room to close off from outside air and set up a portable air cleaner or filter to keep the air in this room clean even when it’s smoky in the rest of the building and outdoors.
    • Use high efficiency filters in your central air conditioning system to capture fine particles from smoke. If your system has fresh air intake, set the system to “recirculate” mode and close the outdoor intake damper.
    • If you are not ordered to evacuate but smoky conditions exist, stay inside in a safe location or go to a community building where smoke levels are lower.
  • If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible.

Returning Home After a Wildfire

  • Do not return home until authorities say it is safe to do so.
  • Avoid hot ash, charred trees, smoldering debris and live embers. The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or spark another fire.
  • When cleaning, wear protective clothing – including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves and sturdy thick-soled shoes – during clean-up efforts.
  • Use a respirator to limit your exposure, and wet debris to minimize breathing dust particles. People with asthma, COPD and/or other lung conditions should take precautions in areas with poor air quality, as it can worsen symptoms.
  • Document property damage with photographs. Conduct an inventory and contact your insurance company for assistance.
  • Send text messages or use social media to reach out to family and friends. Phone systems are often busy following a disaster. Make calls only in emergencies.