Your guide to preparing your home and emergency kit for California wildfire season

The warm sun and sandy beaches aren’t the only summertime staples to California’s landscape. Wildfires are, too.

Wildfire season in California usually lasts from July to October, blazing through acres and homes, and putting people and the environment in danger. But as climate change and drought conditions continue to shift environmental norms, the season of fires is lasting longer.

According to Drought.gov, a national drought information system, various parts of California are facing abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions, making an ideal landscape to feed flames.

In 2021, more than 2 million acres were burned from wildfires, with more than 3,000 structures damaged and destroyed, and three fatalities, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

This included the Caldor Fire that ravaged through 221,835 acres in the counties of El Dorado, Amador and Alpine, and the Dixie Fire that set ablaze 963,309 acres in the Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama counties.

Here are tips on how to prepare and stay safe during wildfire season:

Before a wildfire

It’s best to take precautionary measures before wildfires start.

According to ReadyforWildfire.org, a resource guide from Cal Fire, your home can catch on fire from flying embers, direct flames from a fire or nearby burning home and radiant heat from burning plants and buildings.

You can make your home more fire-resistant by ensuring your roof is made of composition, metal, clay or tile. You should also remove leaves and debris from your roof.

Other tips from Cal Fire and Sacramento County on how to prepare yourself and your home include:

• Cover vents with 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch metal mesh

• Install dual-paned windows that have one pane made of tempered glass

• Ensure walls are made with ignition-resistant building materials, such as stucco, fire retardant and treated wood.

• Cover the chimney and stove pipe outlets with a non-flammable screen

• Keep fire extinguishers, shovel, rake, bucket and hose nearby

• Landscape with less flammable plants, such as aloe, hedging roses and maple trees

• Upkeep lawns regularly by removing fallen leaves, branches and dead vegetation

• Report power line hazards

• Create an evacuation plan that includes escape routes by foot and car

• Make an emergency supply kit

• Install smoke detectors and make sure they are working properly

During a wildfire

You can sign up to get live updates about active wildfires from Cal Fire online. If there is a fire near you, the agency advises that you prepare for an evacuation, be aware of your community’s response plans and have your emergency supply kit ready.

If there is still time, you should shut all doors and windows, but leave them unlocked in case firefighters need to enter in quickly. It’s recommended that you also remove flammable items, such as curtains, and move furniture away from windows and doors.

Other tips include:

• Shut off gas, air conditioning and propane tanks

• Turn off running water

• Put your emergency supplies and necessary belongings into your car so you can evacuate when needed

• Park your car in the direction that you plan to leave and make sure all windows and doors are closed

• Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeve shirts and long pants made of cotton material, and face and eye coverings

• Keep pets nearby

• When you are evacuating, be sure to tell someone where you’re headed and how others can reach you

Local radio stations KFBK 1530 AM, KXJZ 88.9 FM or KSTE 650 AM will also be providing emergency information for Sacramento County residents.

What should be in an emergency kit?

Your fire emergency kit should include the following, according to Cal Fire:

• face coverings
• medications
• a supply of non-perishable food
• clothing
• copies of important documents
• first aid
• pet supplies

Protect yourself from wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke can cause regions to have unhealthy air quality. As the fires consume businesses, homes, cars and appliances in the region, the wildfire smoke is fused with carcinogens from burning plastics and paints.

Depending on how big the fire is, smoke can spread from miles away. According to an analysis by the California Air Resources Board, heavy smoke from the 2018 Camp Fire traveled thousands of miles, resulting in elevated levels of air pollutants in the Sacramento Valley for about two weeks.

Burnt metals, such as iron and lead, from the fire were also detected more than 150 miles away in Modesto and San Jose.

The effects of inhaling toxic wildfire smoke will vary for people, but can be especially harmful for those with preexisting conditions, such as asthma, heart disease or pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the immediate symptoms of breathing in smoke include coughing, irritated sinuses, chest pain, stinging eyes and headaches.

But it can also lead to worsened chronic heart and lung diseases, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The organization recommends that people use air purifiers indoors to reduce pollutants and have N-95 or P-100 masks on hand.

During fires, it’s best to be aware of local air quality reports and stay indoors, the EPA wrote. Also, avoid burning gas stoves and candles, smoking and vacuuming, so particle levels stay low. If you have any health conditions, talk to your medical provider for directions on how to stay safe.

This story was originally published April 3, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Your guide to preparing your home and emergency kit for California wildfire season."