What to do in a wildfire: before, during and after
Know your evacuation route in advance, follow the alerts and leave immediately when told to.
BeforeBefore a disaster
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Learn your evacuation routes, practise with your pets and decide where you will go.
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Keep an area of at least 9 metres (30 feet) around your home free of leaves, debris and flammable materials.
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If you can, store an N95 mask for smoke, and keep your phone charged with a backup charger.
DuringDuring a disaster
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Pay attention to emergency alerts and follow their instructions.
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Evacuate immediately when the authorities tell you to.
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If you are trapped, call emergency services and give your location; help may be delayed.
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If you are not told to leave but there is smoke, stay inside in a safe place.
AfterAfter a disaster
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Return home only when the authorities say it is safe.
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Stay away from hot ash, charred trees, smouldering debris and embers.
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When cleaning up, wear protective clothing and a respirator, and wet debris to keep the dust down.
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Phone lines are often busy after a disaster: send text messages and call only in an emergency.
Official sources
Every step in this guide is based on one of these pages.
- Ready.gov (FEMA) Wildfires Page date: · Checked:
A short summary of the sources below, checked against them. Read a source for the full advice.
This guide works offline and summarises public official pages. It is not a live or official announcement; follow the authorities' instructions.