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Wildfires

The wildfire season in the U.S. typically runs from May through September in the Western states, but the threat of wildfires exists anywhere there is wild land, no matter the time of the year. On average, more than 100,000 wildfires burn in the U.S. each year, which is why it's important to have fire prevention products on hand and an
emergency plan in place.

Wildfire Prepare Wildfire Respond Wildfire Recover

Prepare

Clearing debris and maintaining landscaping now can help reduce the risk of wildfires harming your property later. Communicate your emergency and evacuation plans to staff, residents, and guests.

  • Train staff on emergency and evacuation procedures
  • Maintain a “defensible space” of 30-100 feet around your property to slow the spread of a wildfire
  • Smoke detectors, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers should be installed and functional
  • Keep copies of critical business documents off site in fire-resistant storage
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Respond

Call 9-1-1 if you see a wildfire in your area and have not gotten an order to evacuate. You may want to shut off any gas or fuel lines, and turn on lawn sprinklers. Remember rakes, shovels, and buckets can be used as fire tools. If you need to evacuate, take your emergency supply kit and important documents. Leave exterior and interior lights turned on to make your facility more visible in heavy smoke. Unlocked doors will give firefighters easy access to your facility and property.

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Recover

After a wildfire, you may need to repair and recover. Your property may have fire and/or smoke damage. When cleaning up ash and burned debris, wet with a garden hose to minimize airborne dust particles and wear face masks and protective clothing. For safety reasons, properly discard food, water, and cleaning supplies that have been exposed to heat and soot.

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