Wildfire Safety
Wildfires are burning out of control in Texas and Oklahoma.
Land, homes and entire towns are being consumed by the flames.
Are you prepared to take appropriate action should you find
yourself or your property in the path of such a fire?
Low humidity, windy conditions and no foreseeable sign of rain
add up to extremely dangerous situations. Having a plan in place
and following it closely could save your life.
When Driving:
Do NOT drive into heavy smoke. Visibility can reach zero. You
won't be able to see other cars, emergency vehicles and the fire
itself. You could possibly drive into the fire itself and the
flames could jump the road behind you, leaving no escape.
Do NOT go in search of the source and do not follow emergency
vehicles. Getting in the way of firetrucks, ambulances and
police not only place your life in danger but the lives of these
people and those they are trying to help as well.
Do not approach a scene downwind. Wildfire can spread very
quickly and you may become trapped. These fires also produce
their own weather, such as windstorms, which make them
dangerously unpredictable.
The wisest course of action is to stay as far away as possible
from the scene.
At Home:
Keep grass cut low, brush cleared away and shrubs trimmed. This
will lessen the fuel for the fire to feed on.
Do not burn trash, leaves or light the barbeque grill. Do NOT
toss cigarette butts onto dry grass. In dry, windy conditions,
all it takes is the smallest of sparks to ignite parched grass
and brush.
Keep water hoses hooked up to an outdoor spigot. Should a fire
threaten your home, water grass, trees, shrubs, outbuildings,
and most importantly, your home. Embers can jump and ignite
easily. Keeping your home and yard as moist could very well save
it.
Have an escape plan. Know all the exits available from your
home. One or more may be cut off and you will need to know all
of the alternatives.
You may not have time to rescue your possessions. You, your
family, and pets should be your foremost concern.
If authorities order an evacuation, do not argue or hesitate.
They have a better grasp of the situation than you. Act quickly
to get to safety.
In the instance of wildfire, good planning and a cool head will
be key to your safety. Use common sense and have a plan and
stick to it.
About the author:
Nikola Marshall lives in Oklahoma with her two dogs. She is a
storm spotter and active with her local police volunteer
program. She is an avid reader, scrapbooker and writer. She is
an author on Writing.Com
which is located at http://www.Writing.Com/ and is accessible by
anyone.
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