EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CREATE A HOME AND WILD FIRE SAFETY PLAN & KIT

How to Create a Home & Wildfire Safety Plan and Kit for California - Erin Aschow

SO THIS ISN’T MY “NORMAL” TYPE OF CONTENT, BUT IMPORTANT NONETHELESS. I SHARED A DISASTER PREPAREDNESS POST A FEW YEARS AGO AND WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH ONE THAT’S MORE SPECIFIC TO MY CALIFORNIA FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WITH RISING TEMPERATURES, FIRE SEASON SEEMS TO BE STARTING SOONER AND LASTING LONGER. WHICH MEANS NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FIRE SAFETY KIT & PLAN READY TO GO.

FIRE SAFETY KIT

HAVING A GENERAL DISASTER KIT & SUPPLIES READY IS GREAT, BUT IF YOU LIVE IN CALIFORNIA, OR ANYWHERE ELSE THAT IS THREATENED BY WILDFIRES, IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A MORE SPECIFIC FIRE SAFETY PLAN, CHECKLIST AND SUPPLIES READY TO GO.

THERE ARE A FEW ROUTES YOU CAN GO, YOU CAN BUY A READY MADE FIRE KIT, OR MAKE YOUR OWN. I FEEL LIKE THE BEST BET IS TO DO BOTH – BUY ONE WITH THE MAIN SUPPLIES AND ADD SOME OF YOUR OWN.

THE BEST PLACE TO BUY DISASTER KITS IS ON AMAZON. THEY HAVE A TON OF AMAZING OPTIONS AT REASONABLE PRICES. PLUS, YOU CAN READ OTHER PEOPLE’S REVIEWS & SEE PHOTOS.

BEST OVERALL FIRE EMERGENCY KIT

THIS REDFLORA KIT IS ONE OF THE BEST ALL AROUND PURCHASES. IT’S A COLOR CODED SYSTEM FOR 2 PEOPLE, MEANT FOR A 3 DAY PERIOD. IT’S GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED LIKE WATER, FOOD, LIGHT, PERSONAL HYGIENE, TOOLS, FIRST AID, SHELTER, WARMTH & COMMUNICATION.

IT ALSO COMES WITH A VIDEO GUIDE AND AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT INTO THEIR REMINDER SYSTEM SO NOTHING EXPIRES.

BEST VALUE FIRE EMERGENCY KIT

THIS READYAMERICA FIRE KIT IS A GREAT VALUE AND MAKES A GOOD BASE FOR A CUSTOM EMERGENCY KIT. IT COSTS $35 AND COMES WITH SUPPLIES FOR 2 PEOPLE FOR 3 DAYS.

IT COMES WITH A 33 PIECE FIRST AID KIT, FOOD, WATER, EMERGENCY BLANKETS, SAFETY LIGHT STICKS AND A LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACK.

BEST EMERGENCY FOOD KIT

THIS PREMIUM KIT COMES WITH SUPPLIES FOR 2 OR 4 PEOPLE AND IS TOP RATED WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD. WHILE A LOT OF EMERGENCY KITS COME WITH PROTEIN BARS, THIS ONE HAS 3 DAYS WORTH OF FOOD LIKE MACARONI AND CHEESE & CHICKEN TERIYAKI RICE.

IT ALSO COMES WITH ITEMS LIKE SURVIVAL WATER STRAWS, A PORTABLE STOVE, BATH WIPES, EMERGENCY BLANKETS, WHISTLES & A LANTERN.

DON’T FORGET A VEHICLE EMERGENCY KIT

I ALSO THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO ADD AN EMERGENCY KIT TO YOUR CAR. JUST IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS WHEN YOU’RE AWAY FROM HOME, OR IN THE EVENT YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF YOUR HOUSE QUICKLY AND CAN’T GRAB YOUR KIT OR SUPPLIES.

THIS IS MORE OF A WORST CASE SCENARIO KIT, BUT IT’S BETTER TO BE PREPARED. I REALLY LIKE THAT THE ITEMS YOU’RE MOST LIKELY TO NEED FIRST ARE PACKED ON TOP. IT ALSO INCLUDES A NECK GATOR THAT CAN BE USED AS AN EMERGENCY MASK. PLUS, THE ENTIRE BAG IS CLEAR, HEAVY DUTY & WATERPROOF.

FIRE ESCAPE KIT

I WAS RECENTLY TALKING TO FRIENDS ABOUT HOW MY SISTER AND I HAD A FIRE LADDER IN OUR ROOM AS KIDS. WHICH WE LEARNED TO USE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. AS I WAS SEARCHING FOR A NEW ONE, I FOUND THIS EASY TO USE, ANTI SLIP FIRE ESCAPE LADDER – WHICH IS GREAT IF YOU LIVE IN A TWO STORY HOUSE. NOTE: THIS IS A ONE TIME USE LADDER, SO IF YOU WANT TO PRACTICE USING IT, I RECOMMEND BUYING TWO.

I REMEMBER DOING FIRE DRILLS WITH MY FAMILY AT HOME AND AT OUR SCHOOL AS A KID, BUT IT’S NOT SOMETHING I REALLY THINK ABOUT AS AN ADULT. IT’S CRAZY TO THINK I DON’T KNOW MANY PEOPLE’S PHONE NUMBERS ANYMORE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND RARELY THINK ABOUT CHECKING OUR SMOKE ALARMS UNLESS I OVERCOOK A FROZEN PIZZA.

WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT FIRE LADDERS, I ALSO STUMBLED UPON THIS FIRE ESCAPE KIT WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR STANDARD SUPPLIES.

IT WAS CUSTOMIZED BY US MILITARY VETERANS TO PREPARE FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FIRE EMERGENCIES. MEANING, THE KIT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR FIRE EMERGENCIES.

IT INCLUDES ITEMS LIKE A FIRE EMERGENCY BLANKET, HEAT RESISTANT GLOVES, EMERGENCY ESCAPE ROPE & CARABINERS, A GLASS BREAKER HAMMER, A TACTICAL FLASHLIGHT, GLOW STICKS, MEDICAL BURN GEL & FIRST AID SUPPLIES.

OTHER ITEMS I RECOMMEND ADDING TO YOUR FIRE EMERGENCY KIT

HERE IS A LIST OF OTHER ITEMS TO CONSIDER ADDING. I HAVE ONE OF THESE TRUNK ORGANIZERS THAT WORKS REALLY WELL, YOU CAN EVEN USE IT IN YOUR HOME FOR KEEPING EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE.

A RESPIRATOR MASK & GOGGLES OR FULL FACE RESPIRATOR MASK
FIRE RETARDANT SPRAY KIT
COLD FIRE – INSTANTLY COOLS HOT SURFACES
PET EMERGENCY KIT, SUPPLIES, FOOD, WATER & CONSIDER AN EVACUATION BAG OR CRATE
PORTABLE, SOLAR POWERED PHONE AND DEVICE CHARGER

WUSH BAG

I RECENTLY READ ABOUT AN IDEA CALLED A “WUSH” BAG. AKA: WAKE UP SH*TS HAPPENING – WHICH IS MY NEW FAVORITE FIRE SAFETY PLAN/KIT ACRONYM!

HERE’S WHAT IS RECOMMENDED TO HAVE NEARBY OR IN A BAG READY TO GO. THESE ARE ESPECIALLY USEFUL IN FIRE SCENARIOS/

WALLET
CELL PHONE – THIS CAN BE TRICKY, SO CONSIDER BUYING A CHEAP BACKUP PHONE THAT CAN BE PREPAID
BACKUP PHONE CHARGER (I LIKE THIS ONE BECAUSE THE CABLES ARE BUILT IN AND IT COMES WITH THREE CABLES FOR DIFFERENT DEVICES)
KEYS – GET AN EXTRA SET AND KEEP THEM IN THE BAG
PORTABLE USB DRIVE – BACK UP COPIES OF PHOTOS, FILES FROM YOUR COMPUTER, IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS LIKE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE, PASSPORT, INSURANCE POLICIES, DEED FOR HOUSE, MARRIAGE LICENSE, HEALTH INSURANCE, CREDIT CARDS, HOMEOWNERS OR RENTAL INSURANCE, ETC.
CASH – ALWAYS HELPFUL TO HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA CASH IN CASE YOU CAN’T FIND YOUR WALLET & CAN’T GET TO A BANK.
MEDICATIONS
GLASSES
FLASHLIGHT

WHAT TO INCLUDE IF YOU’RE MAKING YOUR OWN KIT

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) THAT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE IF YOU WANT TO BUILD YOUR OWN KIT OR KITS FOR FAMILY.

3 DAY FOOD SUPPLY (PER PERSON)
3 DAY WATER SUPPLY
SNACKS
CLOTHING
LIGHTWEIGHT CAMPING TARP
REUSABLE BOTTLE FOR WATER
WATER FILTER STRAW OR PURIFICATION TABLETS
FIRST AID KIT
PILLOW, BLANKETS, EAR PLUGS, ETC
TOILETRIES
SANITATION PRODUCTS
TOILET PAPER
FLASHLIGHT
BATTERIES
LEATHERMAN MULTITOOL
PARACORD
MAPS OF LOCAL AREAS (IMPORTANT IF CELL SERVICE IS NOT WORKING)
RADIO
SOLAR CHARGER
PEPPER SPRAY
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
TUBE TENT
SIGNAL FLARE

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THESE ITEMS & MORE HERE ON MY AMAZON EMERGENCY SUPPLIES LIST.

HOW TO CREATE A PLAN

MY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MORE SPECIFIC IF YOU LIVE IN A WILDFIRE ZONE. BUT DEFINITELY HELPFUL REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE.

I PERSONALLY FOLLOW CAL FIRE AND LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS ON VARIOUS SOCIAL NETWORKS TO STAY UPDATED. FOR INSTANCE, THERE IS A REALLY GREAT GROUP FOR SONOMA COUNTY ON FACEBOOK WITH CONSTANT UPDATES FROM PEOPLE IN THE AREA. I RECOMMEND SEARCHING FACEBOOK OR REDDIT FOR GROUPS IN YOUR COUNTY / COUNTIES WHERE YOUR FAMILY LIVES.

CAL FIRE ALSO HAS A REALLY GREAT WEBSITE THAT CAN HELP YOU CREATE A PREPAREDNESS PLAN BASED ON WHERE YOU LIVE.

YOU ENTER YOUR SPECIFIC DETAILS AND IT GIVES YOU A PLAN THAT YOU CAN SAVE WITH INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EVACUATION CHECKLIST, HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN EVACUATION, ANIMAL EVACUATION INFORMATION & HOME HARDENING TASKS.

I RECOMMEND VISITING THE SITE AND GETTING A CHECKLIST SPECIFIC TO YOUR LOCATION & NEEDS. BUT HERE ARE SOME GENERAL TIPS THAT YOU CAN REVIEW, OR SAVE THE IMAGES TO YOUR PHONE / PRINT THEM OUT FOR FUTURE USE.

Home & Wildfire EVACUATION CHECKLIST

HOME & WILDFIRE: PREPARE FOR AN EVACUATION

HOME & WILDFIRE HOME HARDENING TIPS

Home & Wildfire Home Hardening Checklist California - Erin Aschow

HOME & WILDFIRE PET AND ANIMAL EVACUATION TASKS

Home & Wildfire Pet and Animal Evacuation Checklist - California - Erin Aschow

I HOPE THIS POST IS HELPFUL! I KNOW IT’S DEFINITELY HELPED ME GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF IMPROVING OUR PLAN & EMERGENCY KITS.

IT’S NEVER FUN HAVING TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS, BUT PUTTING TOGETHER A HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLAN AND PREPARING FOR “THE WORST” IS SO IMPORTANT. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LIVE IN AN AREA THAT’S CONSTANTLY THREATENED.

FROM CREATING AN EVACUATION PLAN TO CHECKING YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS, I HOPE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE, BUT IS OVERLY PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE.