Wildfires

Be Wildfire Ready -(https://www.ready.gov/wildfires)

Wildfires can ruin homes and cause injuries or death to people and animals. A wildfire is an unplanned fire that burns in a natural area such as a forest, grassland or prairies.

If you live in an area adjacent to wooded areas, the threat of wildfire is a concern. Fast moving wildfires can destroy a home in a short period of time.

Before A Wildfire:

Prepare Now

• Sign up for your community’s emergency warning system.
• Gather emergency supplies, including a N95 respirator mask that filters out particles in the air.
• If you have a pre-existing respiratory ailment, consult your physician
• Keep important documents in a fireproof safe place.
• Know your community’s evacuation plan

Protect your home and business:

• Defend your space.
  • Use fire resistant roofing or siding materials
  • Enclose spaces under porches and decks
  • Replace mulch with decorative stone
  • Use non-resinous or less flammable plants
  • Prune trees and shrubs to remove dead or dying plant life
  • Reduce the density and change the arrangement of landscaping
  • https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/fire/docs/100ft.pdf

Survive During a Wildfire

• Evacuate immediately if told to do so.
• If trapped, call 911 and give your location, but be aware that emergency response could be delayed or impossible. Turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
• Listen to, or watch local media or news outlets
• Use an N95 mask to help keep harmful products out of the air you breathe

After a Wildfire

• Listen to authorities and do not return until told to do so. The area may be unsafe.
• Avoid hot ash, burned trees, shrubs or other smoldering debris. Be cautious of the ground in burned areas. The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or re-ignite or cause another fire.
• Avoid breathing ash from the fire.
• Document property damage with photographs. Inventory your belongings and contact your insurance company for assistance.