Wildfire ready...a Public Safety Reminder

5/9/2019 (Permalink)

With warmer weather, the threat of wildfire danger in the front range will be greater. We at SERVPRO of Golden/Wheat Ridge/Evergreen urge everyone in our community to be cautious and aware of their surroundings. Practicing basic fire safety is a must for everyone, from proper disposal of fire place ash and being aware of local fire restrictions to not tossing cigarette butts out of car windows. The other piece of the fire danger puzzle is being prepared for an emergency. Last years catastrophic fires in California are a prime example of the speed at which one’s escape can be cut off. Having an understanding of what is needed to remain safe can make a difference in the outcome of such an emergency. The following is a Fire Evacuation Check List that may prove helpful:

Attire and Equipment

• Wear only cotton or wool clothes
• Wear long pants, long sleeved shirt or jacket and boots
• Carry gloves, a handkerchief to cover your face, water to drink and goggles
• Keep a flashlight and portable radio with you at all times
• Tune in to a local radio station and listen for instructions

Your Family

• Evacuate all family members
• Make sure to designate a safe meeting place and contact person
• Relay your plans to the contact person
• Evacuate pets

Vehicles

• Place vehicles in the garage, pointing out with keys in the ignition
• Roll up the windows
• Close the garage door, but leave it unlocked
• Disconnect the electric garage door opener so that the door can be opened manually

Inside the House

• Close all interior doors
• Leave a light on in each room
• Close fire-resistant drapes, shutters and venetian blinds
• Turn off pilot lights
• Move overstuffed furniture (couch/chair) to the center of the room

Outside the House

• Place combustible patio furniture in the house or garage
• Shut off propane at the tank or natural gas at the meter
• Close all exterior vents if possible
• Prop a ladder against the house to provide firefighters access to the roof
• Make sure that garden hoses are connected to faucets, nozzles set to ‘spray’
• Close all exterior doors and windows, leave exterior door unlocked
• Turn on outside lights
• If you have an emergency water source (pool/pond) clearly mark it

Essentials (to place in the car)         

• Important documents (bank, IRS, trust, insurance, birth certificates, etc)
• Credit and ATM cards
• Medications
• Prescription glasses
• Driver’s license
• Passports
• Computer backup files
• Inventory of home contents (photograph all rooms and contents of drawers, closets, cupboards)
• Address book
• Cell phone and charger
• Personal toiletries
• Change of clothing
• Family photo albums and video/DVD’s
• Family heirlooms
• Pet food, water and bowls

This is a sample and fairly simple evacuation list; more detailed lists can be found online. Part of your evacuation plan should be to identify routes to safety from your home. If you live in a mountain community with limited access remember that also means limited escape routes. Please plan accordingly for traffic when all your neighbors reach the same conclusion to evacuate at the same time.

If possible and space allows many of these ‘emergency items’ could be packed in bins placed for easy access and quicker evacuation. The more organized the plan, the quicker it can be put into action.

From all of us at SERVPRO of Golden/Wheat Ridge/Evergreen to you, have a safe and fun summer!