Staying Safe During a Wildfire With temperatures soaring around the United States, there are many states that have had wildfires start to sprout up. Knowing what to do in case a wildfire is near your home may save your home and may even save your life. Taking time to learn about the process before a wildfire strikes will ensure that you are as ready as you can possibly be. First, when you are advised to evacuate you want to make sure that you get out of your home immediately. Take only what you are going to need and make sure that you lock your doors before you leave. Let someone know when you have left your home and which route you are taking away from your home. If the fire is close, you will want to watch the smoke for any change in speed or change in direction. With all of this stress going on it is a nice security blanket to have affordable health care insurance.
Preparing Your Home Second, if you have not received the order to evacuate and you have time to prepare your home, you may want to… Shut off any natural gas, propane or fuel oil supplies at the source. This is an obvious way to avoid potential damage to your house. Many people don’t realize that just heat alone could set off an explosion, not just the flames. So keep yourself safe by taking care of things beforehand. Gather anything that cannot be replaced and put it in your car, so you can exit quickly. Many times we don’t think about what is really irreplaceable so it is a good idea to have a plan set if you are in an area that has potential fire hazards. Put a ladder against your house, in clear view. This gives you an escape route that is much safer. It can be the difference between life and death at times.
Preventing Extensive Damage Turn on all of the lights in the home and the lights outside of your home. This way, you can be sure that your home is visible even when it gets very smoky.
Put your lawn sprinklers on your roof and leave them on to soak your home for as long as possible. This will keep your house less flammable. Dig a wide fire break trench around the house and look for potential fire hazards, such as old dying trees and dry shrubs. Fill as many large containers with water as you can and put them outside. The one thing you don’t want to run out of is water. Close all of the doors within your home to prevent a draft. Wind only helps fire spread and can make it more 100 times faster than you think. Fire can be devastating and you should be as prepared as you can be. If a fire should reach your home, you want to be sure that you have done all that you can to protect it and your family. So having an affordable health care insurance is a great idea for creating a financial security for you and your family. Photo Credit: lewsviews, Travis S., Mark’s Postcards from Beloit