Site Best Viewed 1024X768
|
HOME |
|
Survival Kits, Emergency Supplies
|
US
Homeland Security Live Alert
We Are A Member of Canada's Online Shopping Mall
| |
WELCOME TO
RUPREPARED.CA
MAKE A PLAN - KNOW
THE RISK - BE PREPARED!
Wildfires - Know The Risks
Information Supplied By Government of Canada
Wildfires are a natural hazard in any forested
and grassland region in Canada. The regions with the highest wildfire occurrence
are British Columbia, and the Boreal forest zones of Ontario, Quebec, the
Prairie provinces, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
The Atlas of Canada - Forest Fires
Canadian Forest Service - Article on surviving wildfire
entrapment
Wildfire facts
- Approximately 8,000 wildfires occur each
year in Canada.
- The average area burned in Canada is 2.5
million ha/year.
- Fires caused by lightning represent 45%
of all fires, but because they occur in remote locations and often in
clusters, they represent 81% of total area burned.
- Human-caused fires represent 55% of all
fires. They occur in more populated areas and are usually reported and
extinguished quickly.
How to prepare for a wildfire
If your community is surrounded by brush,
grassland or forest,
follow these instructions to prepare your home and family for potential
wildfires.
- Prepare an
emergency kit.
- Check for, and remove, fire hazards in
and around your home, such as dried out branches, leaves and debris.
- Keep a good sprinkler in an accessible
location.
- Learn fire safety techniques and teach
them to members of your family.
- Have fire drills with your family on a
regular basis.
- Maintain first-aid supplies to treat the
injured until help arrives.
- Have an escape plan so that all members
of the family know how to get out of the house quickly and safely.
- Have a
emergency plan
so family members can contact each other in case they are separated during
an evacuation.
- Make sure all family members are familiar
with the technique of "STOP, DROP, AND ROLL" in case of clothes catching on
fire.
- Make sure every floor and all sleeping
areas have smoke detectors.
- Consult with your local fire department
about making your home fire-resistant.
- If you are on a farm/ranch, sheltering
livestock may be the wrong thing to do because a wildfire could trap animals
inside, causing them to burn alive. Leaving animals unsheltered is
preferable, or if time and personal safety permits, evacuation away from the
danger zone should be considered.
If you see a wildfire approaching your home
If you see a fire approaching your home or
community, report it immediately by dialing 9-1-1 or your local emergency
number. If it is safe, and there is time before the fire arrives, you should
take the following action:
- Close all windows and doors in the house.
- Cover vents, windows, and other openings
of the house with duct tape and/or precut pieces of plywood.
- Park your car, positioned forward out of
the driveway. Keep car windows closed and have your valuables already packed
in your car.
- Turn off propane or natural gas. Move any
propane barbeques into the open, away from structures.
- Turn on the lights in the house, porch,
garage and yard.
Inside the house, move combustible materials such as light curtains and
furniture away from the windows.
- Place a ladder to the roof in the front
of the house.
- Put lawn sprinklers on the roof of the
house and turn on the water.
- Move all combustibles away from the
house, including firewood and lawn furniture.
- Evacuate your family and pets to a safe
location.
- Stay tuned to your local radio station
for up-to-date information on the fire and possible road closures.
What to do during a forest fire or wildfire
- Monitor local radio stations.
- Be prepared to evacuate at any time. If
told to evacuate, do so.
- Keep all doors and windows closed in your
home.
- Remove flammable drapes, curtains,
awnings or other window coverings.
- Keep lights on to aid visibility in case
smoke fills the house.
- If sufficient water is available, turn
sprinklers on to wet the roof and any water-proof valuables
Know The Risks
|
RSS Feed Page
