Wildfire Preparation Checklist – the ultimate 21-Step Plan

Chris HuntAbout the Author: Hi! I'm Chris Hunt, and I wrote this article. With years of experience as a former firefighter and knowledge of combustible materials, I have personally researched and compiled the information presented here. Please note that the content provided is solely my opinion and should not be construed as professional advice. Additionally, I do not guarantee the quality or performance of any of the products featured. Please be sure to review the website's Disclaimer, Terms and Conditions before using the site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (without additional cost or expense to you).

The threat and frequency of wildfires are increasing every year. Some say that climate change is causing extreme weather conditions to occur more regularly than in modern history. Others attribute this to having a dry season in some areas. Others yet attribute them to agriculture or foul play. Whatever the reason, it has become a real threat to many communities. Therefore, a wildfire preparation checklist is necessary for people living in or near rural or sensitive areas.

A wildfire preparation checklist will help you know that your house is as well-protected as possible and that you have a plan when a fire starts coming your way.

We know this all too well. In Christmas 2019, I flew from my home in Canada back to Australia to help my father and mother protect their property from the ferocious ‘Megablaze’ that burned through the state of New South Wales.

The fire was so close to home that we stood and watched it sneaking toward us:

wildfire approaching

Helicopters borrowed from California hovered over our heads, dropping water on the forefront:

helicopter water bombing

During these fires, we implemented every step of our evacuation checklist.

Here’s our checklist on preparing for a wildfire, from a collection of different ones made by FEMA, Cal Fire, the Canadian authorities, and Australian authorities. Make sure your checklist adheres to your particular local requirements!

Wildfire Preparation Checklist

Download the Checklist as a PDF

1. Every Year Before Wildfire Season

  • Buy a High-Pressure firefighting Pump: A high-pressure pump can help you fight spot fires that can fly 2-3 miles ahead of the firefront. If you choose to stay and fight, the pump is a lifesaver. If you get a pump, you will need a reliable water source such as a water tank, pool, or lake from which your pump can draw water. Buying a pump will not be possible if you don’t have a reliable water source. Most rural properties do have this water source, though. With a quality high-pressure firefighting pump, you’re much more prepared to fight the fire from your home. As the old Australian saying goes: “You can’t fight a bushfire with a garden hose.”

  • Stockpile N-95 Masks: N-95 personal protection masks could help protect you if you’re stuck in thick smoke, up to an extent. These days, N95 is available almost anywhere. Still, they may run out in those areas under threat of wildfire incidents, so it’s best to stock up in advance.

  • Create a 30-foot (9 meters) ‘Defense’ Zone Around your House: There should be as few flammable objects and vegetation within 30 feet of your home. This buffer zone should be in place to prevent close flames from having an easy fuel path to your home:
    1. Clear vegetation, vines, and surrounding outdoor furniture.
    2. Remove flammable or tall plants that might help a fire reach your roof.
    3. Remove mulch and bark chips from the ground.
    4. Clean your gutters of leaves and fill them with water if a wildfire is less than seven days away.
    5. Ensure your roof is free of fallen trees, leaves, or branches.

Here’s my father cleaning out our gutters during the recent fires (I do wish he wore a safety harness):

cleaning gutters as fire approaches

  • Create a 100-foot (30 meters) ‘Fuel Break’ Zone Around your House: The fuel break zone will likely have light vegetation and wildfire fuels. To minimize risk, do the following:
    1. Trim all tree branches that hang less than 6 feet from the ground.
    2. Thin out vegetation as much as possible.
    3. Create fuel breaks such as driveways, gravel paths, and stretches of open un-vegetated space that will impede the fire’s path.
    4. Mow your lawns and remove the lawn trimmings.
  • Create a 200-foot (60 meters) ‘Thin Vegetation’ Zone Around your House: If you live on a large rural property, the zone outside of the 100-foot area may be relevant. In this zone, tips include:
    1. Trim tree branches that touch one another to prevent a flammable canopy.
    2. Stack all firewood racks as far from buildings as possible and preferably at least 200 feet from your home.
    3. Remove any dead leaves, fallen branches, twigs, or anything that combust.
  • Discuss when you will Evacuate if a Wildfire Comes: Sometimes, your state will make forced evacuation orders, meaning you’re obligated to evacuate. But this isn’t always the case. In Australia, for example, it is a commonplace for people to remain in place and prepare to defend their property. It is always safest to evacuate as early as possible if you plan to leave. Wildfires are fast and unpredictable. Spot fires can start miles ahead of a firefront and may block your exit.
  • Identify your Escape Routes: You should have two possible escape routes. First, people who live down cul-de-sacs are particularly vulnerable and may agree to leave early due to this vulnerability.
  • Create an Emergency Kit: According to Cal Fire, an emergency kit should contain the following:
    1. At least a three-day non-perishable food supply
    2. Three gallons of water per person.
    3. All necessary prescriptions.
    4. Spare clothes for several days for each family member.
    5. Financial documents, including credit cards, debit cards, and cash.
    6. An extra set of keys.
    7. A basic first aid kit.
    8. Have a battery-powered flashlight and 2-way radio with spare batteries.
    9. Store a copy of essential documents, like birth certificates and passports.
    10. Any necessary supplies you might need for your pets.

You can choose to buy a professional emergency kit bag. It contains all the essentials you and your family will need to survive for a few days in case of an emergency. Here are some we recommend:

2. Seven Days before the Fire is Expected to Arrive

  • Place your Ladders: Firefighters may need ladders to get to the roof to prevent spot fires. Place them at the front corners of the house (or another intelligent, logical place) for firefighters to easily access. You may want to place ladders at maintenance holes in the attic space for easy access if spot fires start in the attic.
  • Place your Sprinklers: Sprinklers can be placed on the house’s roof and turned on to ensure a build-up of preventative water on the top. You can put sprinklers in the 30-foot zone surrounding your hose to wet the area. However, note that some fire authorities ask that water taps be off before you leave so they can access the fixtures with maximum water pressure. Check with your local fire authority.
  • Place your Hoses: If you have a firefighting pump, set it up by your water source and run the hose to your house. If you have garden hoses, connect them to outdoor water mains so firefighters can use them quickly. They should be long enough to reach the building.
  • Remove Flammables Near Windows: Curtains and flammable window shades should be removed from windows and placed in the center of the room, so the fire does not have fuel at entryways.
  • Cover Vents: Any open vents or windows that cannot be closed should be covered with duct tape, plywood, etc., to prevent drafts.
  • Place Furniture in the Center of the Room: The further you can place furniture from windows and doors, the better. This positioning will help prevent fuel build-up near fire entryways.
  • Fill your Buckets and Sinks with Water: Fill sinks, bathtubs, and buckets with water. It will help prevent fire spread and means you could quickly put out spot fires by tossing a bucket of water onto the flames.
  • Pack your Car: Pack your car with all emergency supplies and important valuables. You should prepare that emergency kit (see ‘1. Before Fire Season).

3. As the Wildfire Approaches

  • Close Windows and Doors: Shut windows and doors. This precaution can help work as a fire block to prevent fire from spreading from room to room. In addition, it can avoid indoor wind drafts that can fan a flame. Check with your local authority if your windows and doors do not necessarily need to be locked.
  • Leave your Lights, Electricity, and Water On: Firefighters may need to use your home’s electricity and water to protect your home. Leaving indoor and outdoor lights on will allow firefighters to see your house through the smoke.
  • Face your car to the Street: Your vehicle should have an emergency supply kit and be ready to go. Park your vehicle with the front facing the street, ready to go at short notice. Have your keys ready.
  • Turn off Gas Mains: If you use propane or natural gas, turn all taps off. In addition, your barbecue propane tank should be placed as far from structures as possible.
  • Leave Earlier than you Think you Should: Many people stay to defend their homes. Depending on your local authorities, this may or may not be allowed. In Australia, many people choose to stay behind and fight. I do not wait to fight. But, if you want to (or must) leave, do it early. You may have a “shelter in place” announcement – which means, “If you haven’t evacuated yet, it’s too late.”

4. After the Wildfire

Some of the main concerns with a wildfire ongoing in the vicinity or after it has finished are:

  • Air Quality: smoke, even residual, can be very harmful. In at-risk persons, like those with asthma or respiratory problems, residual smoke from a wildfire can wreak havoc on a compromised person’s system. Smoke falls under the category of particulate matter. Particles from smoke tend to be very small, with 2.5 micrometers and smaller diameters. Due to their small size, they can travel deep within the lungs once inhaled. Several medical studies directly associate smoke particles and lung health effects.
    You can use an air purifier to clean up the air inside your house and enable everyone to breathe safely. Air purifiers can go anywhere between US$ 100 and US$ 1,000, but their quality and air cleaning capabilities vary quite a bit. We think that the best air purifiers shouldn’t be that expensive. Our top picks are:

  • Ashes: the problem with ashes is two-fold. They’ll fly everywhere and create an air quality problem if you sweep them directly. Second, if you vacuum them with a standard household appliance, the same problem will occur, but you risk damaging your equipment. Our guide on cleaning ash from a fireplace can guide you with the best tips for managing this situation.

Conclusion

Your wildfire checklist may look different from ours. It all depends on where you live, the expectations of your local fire authority, and, of course, your risk tolerance. But this is ours – we think it’s pretty sound and has been battle-tested! Moreover, our research combines many of the authorities’ recommendations of the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Don’t forget that home fires are very different from preparations for wildfires. You can often put out a home fire early if you catch it before its growth stage. For those sorts of fires, things like smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and fire blankets are necessary around your home.