What to do in a forest fire?

Answer 1

1. If you're advised to evacuate then do so immediately.
2. Wear protective clothing.
3. Choose a safe route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of fire and smoke.

Answer 2

Before the Forest Fire Approaches your Home

• Evacuate. Evacuate your pets and every family member that is not essential to the house preparation. Any person with health problems or physical limitations, children and elderly people must leave immediately.

• Wear protective clothes.

• Remove flammables. Clear anything that may catch fire around the house, including wood piles, lawn furniture, grills, tents, etc. Move them out of the safety zone.

• Close and protect openings. Close the attic, basement, vents, doors, pet doors, etc. Remove flammable curtains. Shut every window and shutter to reduce radiating heat.

• Close the doors inside the house. Close alternate doors inside the house to prevent fire spreading. Open the chimney valve but secure the mesh screen.

• Shut off the gas. Shut off natural gas, propane or fuel supplies from the main.

• Water. Connect the garden hoses. Fill any pool, hot tub, garbage bin, tubes or large containers with water.

• Pumps. If you have any water pumps, make sure that they are full and ready.

• Stairs. Place a stair outside the house in a clearing.

• Cars. Park your car on the sidewalk and roll up the windows.

• Garage doors. Disconnect any automatic garage door in case there is need to operate them manually during a black out. Close every garage door.

• Important documents. Place any important document, keepsake and any other thing "you cannot live without" inside the car, ready for a quick exit.

Preparing to leave

• Lights. Turn on external lights and leave a light on in every room to make the house more visible amidst heavy smoke.

• Do not block. Leave doors and windows closed but unblocked. Firemen might need to enter your house quickly to combat the fire. The entire area will be isolated and patrolled by sheriff deputies or the police.

During Forest Fires

Listen to a battery operated radio to receive last minute emergency information.

Remove flammable materials near the home.

• Lawn and pool furniture

• Umbrellas

• Tents

• Wood for chimneys and fireplaces

Remove flammable curtains and tapestry and close every fire retardant shutter and drape.

Adopt measures to protect your home.

• Close every door and window inside the home to avoid air drafts.

• Close gas valves and turn of the pilots.

• Turn on the lights in every room for visibility in dense smoke.

• Place valuable objects that won't be damaged by water in the pool or pond.

• If you have the appropriate hoses and water supply, leave ceiling sprinklers on.

Be prepared to evacuate all family members and pets when the fire is near or when local authorities give the order.

After Forest Fires

Be careful when reentering a burnt natural area. Hot places may ignite without a warning. Immediately check the ceiling and put out sparks or embers. Check the attic for hidden sparks. During several hours after the fire, check the entire house for smoke and sparks. If you are trapped in a forest fire:

It is not possible to overcome a fire and leave it behind. Crouch in a pond or river. Cover your head and upper body with wet clothes. If there is water near, seek shelter in a clearing or amongst a rock bed. Lie on the ground and cover your head and upper body with wet clothes.

Inhale the air near the ground through a wet cloth to avoid burning your lungs or inhaling smoke.

Protect yourself and others

Health risks in exposure through smoke in forest fires

Smoke from forest fires is made from a mix of gases and microscopic particles given off by burning vegetation. The smoke may affect the eyes, irritate the respiratory system and worsen symptoms of people with chronic heart and pulmonary conditions.

How to know if the smoke is affecting you

Smoke may cause:

• Coughing

• Throat irritation

• Sinus irritation

• Breathing difficulty

• Chest pains

• Headache

• Eye irritation

• Nasal secretion

• Asthma exacerbation

If you are suffering from any heart or pulmonary condition, the smoke may worsen its symptoms.

People suffering from a heart conditions may experience:

Chest pains

Palpitations

Breathing difficulty

Fatigue

The smoke may worsen symptoms in people suffering from preexistent respiratory conditions, such as respiratory Allergies, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in which case they may experience:

• Difficulty to breathe normally

• Dry cough or with phlegm

• Chest discomfort

• Breathing difficulty and wheezing

When smoke concentration is high, even healthy people could display some of the symptoms mentioned before.

Find out if you are at risk

If you suffer from any heart or pulmonary condition such as congestive heart failure, angina, emphysema or asthma, you are at more risk of suffering health problems than a healthy person.

The elderly have more possibilities of being affected by smoke, perhaps because they are more likely to suffer from heart or pulmonary conditions than younger people.

Children are at more heal risk by smoke exposition since their respiratory ways are still in development and inhale more air per body weight pound than an adult. In addition, children are prone to performing more outdoor activities.

Answer 3

If you are in the immediate area evacuate as soon as you can. Don't wait for the police or fire to issue a mandatory evacuation area. Also make sure your gas is shut off to your house. Close all doors and windows. Get your animals. Get you paperwork on your house, including your title and insurance work. Make sure your family and friends are also able to get out of the area safely.

Answer 4

oh wow what to do is you go to the nearest local area such as a coffee house or something and call 911 but if you rae caught in one like trapped then run through it and if you catch fire stop drop and roll! but of course i hope that nevwer happens to anybody!!!

Answer 5

get out of their and ditch the fire why do you think their called wild fires but if you have to put it out i would throw a cloth over it to stop the fire

because fires need a few things to grow its main term to firefighters is the fire triangle

1. a fire needs air

2. it needs fuel

3.heat

that's all i have to say see ya

Answer 6

Get out of your house and go somewhere else.

Answer 7

u cant