Fire

1. Fire Modified by the Office of Preparedness with special thanks to FEMA, CERT, and Citizen Corps

2. Dangers of Fire • Asphyxiation • Heat • Smoke

3. Fire Statistics • 85% of all fire deaths occur where people sleep, mostly during night • Most are preventable • 2006: 2,620 people died in reported home fires in the U.S. • Victims are disproportionately children or elderly

4. Developing a Family Fire Plan • Install smoke alarms • Identify two escape routes • Practice escape plan • Practice alerting family members • Learn fire department’s emergency number

5. If a Fire Starts… • Yell “Fire!” several times • Get out quickly • Go to meeting place • Call fire department

6. If You Can’t Escape • Stuff wet cloth around doors and vents • Call fire department • Open windows slightly at top and bottom • Stay low and by a window • Hang or wave a bright-colored or white cloth at the window

7. Preventing Fires • Conduct home hazard hunt • Inspect wood stoves and chimneys annually • Purchase only “laboratory-tested” heaters • Keep heaters at least 3 feet from any flammable items

8. Preventing Fires (contd.) • Keep matches and lighters away from children • Check electrical wiring • Keep combustibles away from stove

9. Wildfires

10. CO Wildfires • Many wildfires in CO are started by lightning • However, a significant number are also ignited by human actions (intentional or unintentional) • Be aware of your activities and avoid doing anything that sparks • Check for red flag warnings and fire restrictions in your area

11. 3 Classes of Wildfires • Surface fire • Ground fire • Crown fire

12. Wildfire Preparedness • Keep wood and other flammable materials away from your home • Keep a garden hose long enough to reach any area of home • Get portable gasoline-powered water pump if pool, lake, or stream is available • Equip chimneys and stovepipes with spark arresters

13. Wildfire Preparedness (contd.) • Keep fire tools handy • Use proper building and landscape design • Create “defensible space” or “safety zone” • Mitigate 100’ around your home • Use fireproof or fire resistant roofing • Keep lawn and plants trimmed • Do not store fire wood or other flammable materials under a deck or next to a home

14. Pre-evacuation Notice • You should: • Get your family and pets (including pet necessities) ready to leave at a moments notice • Get your go-kit ready • Move furniture to the center of the home • Remove flammable drapes and curtains • Close all doors and windows, lock everything other than your planned exit door

15. Pre-evacuation Notice… Cont. • Position the vehicle you will be evacuating in towards the evacuation route for easy escape • Back any other cars and vehicles into the garage and close it • Wet down your roof with a hose • Be ready to turn off utilities as soon as an evacuation is ordered

16. During a Wildfire • Keep listening to emergency information • Follow all emergency and evacuation directions • If you are asked to evacuate DO NOT WAIT to leave, do so immediately and lock your exit door High Park Fire 2012

17. Air Quality in Nearby Areas Smoke from the High Park Fire 2012 • Air quality is a concern as smoke spreads • Keep tabs on the air quality in your area. If they are at dangerous levels - • Keep outdoor activity to a minimum • Keep those with respiratory illnesses, as well as children and the elderly indoors

18. After a Wildfire • Wait until authorities have OK’d reentry • Use caution when reentering • Inspect the roof immediately • Have propane or heating oil tanks inspected • Check the stability of trees around the home • If there is no power, check the main breaker