Here’s why wildfires scare me down to the darkest depths of my soul… explained in just 8 seconds of video:

Last spring, I posted some good tips on wildfire evacuations that I learned from excellent presentation by Fran Santagata of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. I’d been through two major fires before, so I thought that I was pretty well-informed. To my surprise, I learned far more than expected.

Given that Colorado is having yet another god-awful fire season — once again, with fires burning all over the state — I thought I’d repost my notes from that presentation. I didn’t take notes on everything, just on points that I found particularly important or that I didn’t already know. Those notes are below.

At present, Paul and I are not in any danger of evacuation, but a fire could blow up in our neighborhood in very short order. Our neighborhood isn’t forested, but we have lots of scrub oak. I could evacuate in very short order if needed — but wow, I’d hate to have to do that.

Okay, now without further ado, here are my notes from last year’s presentation.

Make a Plan

• Create a 72-hour kit
• Identify valuables to take
• Develop a communication plan for your family
• Select a default meeting place for your family
• Figure out where to stay if you’re evacuated
• Find hotels that accept pets

Prepare Your House

• Create breaks in the vegetation, so that the home can be defended
• Identify and address potential combustibles, including firewood, decks, and gutters
• Ask your local fire department to inspect your property
• Beware of the “ladder fuels” from small bushes to trees to the house
• Add a flag to identify the location of the septic tank

When a Fire Hits

• 1pm to 5 pm is the prime fire danger time
• Close your windows and doors
• Remove your drapes
• Leave the water hoses hooked up
• Open your driveway gates: give emergency vehicles access
• Leave a note on the door (and gate) with contact information

Notification

• Sign up to your county sheriff’s alert notification system
• Follow your local news and sheriff on Facebook and Twitter
• Be sure to have a phone that doesn’t require power, preferably in the bedroom
• Call 911 if you see or smell smoke
• Use a NOAA radio

Route Selection

• Listen to the directions in the notification carefully
• Know the alternate routes out of your neighborhood, including emergency access roads
• Know where the shelters will be for humans and animals (e.g. fairgrounds)

What To Take

• Humans and animals first — everything else can be replaced
• Heirlooms, mementos, photos, computers, important papers
• Clothes, toiletries, medications
• Food and medications for your animals

Be Safe

• Drive slowly! Think clearly! Be observant!
• Don’t stop to take pictures
• Beware of firefighters, wildlife, pets, falling trees, and more

Evacuation

• Evacuations might be done in stages — or not
• Follow the instructions of law enforcement on the ground
• The shelter will be a good source of up-to-date information
• Do not lock the house, if you’re comfortable with that: firefighters and law enforcement might need access, including to save their own lives

Returning Home

• Expect some psychological trauma

Other Tasks

• Take pictures of the house and stuff for insurance
• Find ways to identify your animals (e.g brand or microchip)
• If you have special needs, get registered on the special needs registry
• Do not rely on the county to transport your animals (e.g. horses)
• Identify multiple backup plans
• Check insurance for wildfire protection

If you have any additional tips, please post them in the comments!