A Wildfire is a fire that rages out of control in the wilderness (areas with thick foliage), like a forest or countryside. These fires can be started due to lightning strikes or by accident. The fire spreads quickly, igniting brush, trees and homes.
Wildfires are common in wildland settings where there is thick foliage and during periods of little rainfall.
Before:
- Build an emergency kit.
- Make a family communications plan.
- Help your parents to rake the lawn and rid it of leaves and twigs. (These can catch fire if a wildfire is near your home.)
- Never play with matches. (You could accidentally start a fire.)
During:
- Listen to emergency officials if they say to evacuate.
- If you see a wildfire, call fire department. (You may be the first person to have spotted it.)
- Put important things that won’t be damaged by water, in a pool or pond.
- Turn on outside lights and all the lights inside the house. (This will help for it to be seen in heavy smoke.)
After:
- If you are at home, keep a ‘fire watch’. (That means, look for smoke or sparks throughout the house.) If you see anything, tell an adult immediately.
- If you have evacuated, do not go home until safety officials say so.
- Stay away from downed or dangling power lines. (They could electrocute you.)
- Do not use water from the faucet unless emergency officials say so.
- Smoke Alarms – sensors attached to the ceiling that sound an alarm when they sense smoke.
- Fire Extinguisher – a fire protection device that sprays foam and is used to help put out small fires.
- Evacuation – leaving an area that has been declared unsafe.