Residential Awareness  Are You Prepared?

As the warmer weather begins please remember to prepare for the health and safety of you and your home.

Protect Yourself and Your Family

• Drink plenty of water and work in the early, cooler morning hours when working outside around your home.

• Create an Escape Plan and teach children about fire safety. 
• Make sure your address in clearly marked and post fire/emergency telephone numbers.
• Keep important family documents in a waterproof container

Protect Your Home before Wildfire Threatens

• Regularly clean roof and gutters
• Inspect chimneys twice a year and keep dampers in good working order
• Install smoke alarms on each level of your home, test monthly and check your batteries at least once a year
• Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher and know where they are located
• Keep handy household items that can be used for fire tools: rake, axe, chainsaw or handsaw and shovel
• Keep a ladder that will reach the roof
• Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistive drapes
• Create a 15 space around your home clear of dead brush and debris
• Dispose of all flammable vegetation and rubbish at an appropriate site; follow local burning laws 

Protecting Your Home when Wildfire Threatens

• Wear protective clothing
• Lock your home
• Choose a route away from fire hazards
• Close all windows, vents, doors, and blinds
• Shut off all utilities, if possible
• Open fireplace damper, close fireplace screens
• Move flammable furniture to center of the home
• Seal attic and ground vents with precut noncombustible coverings
• Place combustible patio furniture inside
• Turn off propane tanks
• Wet or remove shrubs within 15 ft of the home
• Gather fire tools

The Rincon Valley Fire District would like you to be aware of the importance of wildfire and reduce your risk by preparing now.  Wildfires often begin unnoticed and spread quickly and almost always start by people. For more information on how you can be promote and practice fire safety contact us.

For more information:

www.firewise.org Firewise!

www.usfa.fema.gov DHS/FEMA U.S. Fire Administration