How to prepare for a wildfire

Wildfires can be scary, but when the weather heats up, so can the forests. The last thing you want to happen is getting trapped in a wildfire. After all, wildfire smoke leads to air pollution and inhaling it can lead to a plethora of lung conditions. That’s why you need to be prepared. What do you do when local authorities issue a wildfire warning — you follow these tips to prepare! ! BrokerLink wants to ensure you know how to prepare for a wildfire emergency.

Explaining wildfires

First off, what is a wildfire? Wildfires are fires that burn in areas with heavy vegetation, including forests, grasslands, and prairies. The worst part about these fires is how fast they spread. That’s because they heavily damage wildlife and natural areas as well as local communities. Where do wildfires come from? How do wildfires start in Canada? There are a couple of common causes, which we review below:

Lightning fires

The two types of lightning are cold and hot. Cold lightning hardly causes wildfires because it doesn’t last. However, hot lightning generates an intense heat that can set trees ablaze.

Man-made fires

Did you know that we are also sometimes the cause of wildfires? Open-burning campfires, equipment failure, engine malfunction, negligently discarded cigarettes, and intentional arson can cause wildfires.

You can’t control the weather but can take responsibility for your actions. Something as simple as putting out cigarettes before throwing them away and not having a campfire during burn bans can make a difference. Now that we understand what causes wildfires, we can review the steps to prepare for one.

Ways to prepare for a wildfire

Wildfires happen everywhere in Canada but are most prominent when there are hot and dry weather conditions. These disasters impact all communities, sometimes in different ways. Those with poor socioeconomic conditions and vulnerabilities have even more to lose and are quicker to receive evacuation orders than their counterparts. Let’s discuss how you can be ready for the impact wildfire smoke will have on your home and community:

Getting ready for a wildfire

Not everyone has experienced a wildfire, and that means they may not know how to prepare for one. Therefore, it is important to educate everyone in your household about them so they understand what to do when the time comes. You can take some of the following steps to be ready at a moment’s notice:

• Create a household emergency plan: Find out what everyone in your household needs, including the elderly, anyone with health conditions, children, pets, and service animals.
• Get your emergency kits together: Your emergency kit should include all the essentials, including food, water, a battery or wind-up flashlight, a first aid kit, a battery charger, and a cell phone. Keep it somewhere easy to access, like the front hall closet, in a backpack or duffle bag.
• Always have an escape plan in place: You should know where to go if you have to evacuate quickly because these natural disasters can result in large amounts of damage. Understand the wildfire evacuation routes before you have to use them.
• Everywhere has different evacuation procedures: You should learn about emergency management organizations in your province or territory.
• Additionally, your city or local area has its own procedures: You should find out about how these differ from other places to be ready for anything.
• Your local radio station can also be an invaluable resource in the event of a wildfire: It will keep you up-to-date with local weather conditions, including signs of poor air quality.
• Another important aspect of wildfires is their impact on air quality: Having up-to-date information always matters.

Everyone should be knowledgeable about best practices to keep up with when dealing with a wildfire. Advanced planning can make a dire situation feel less stressful. You need to help everyone, including children, prepare for a wildfire. The next step is to have the required paperwork with you.

Bring your insurance information with you

You should have home insurance in case your property gets damaged and life insurance in place in the event that something happens to you. Luckily, your insurance company will be there to help after a wildfire. Here’s what you should have together in one place:

• Bring household identification pieces such as your photo ID, birth certificate, and pet ID tags with you.
• Remember your financial and legal documentation. Bring your home payment information, insurance policies, sources of income, and tax statements with you.
• Another part of wildfire preparedness is having medical information on hand, especially if you have specific health conditions. Keep your physician information, immunization records and medications in a safe place, you may opt for a fireproof safe which can allow you items to remain untouched in the event you can’t get to them in time.

Keep all of your documentation in one place so you don’t have to re-enter your home after you evacuate. After all, there will be hot spots and some road closures that will prevent you from going back to get what you need for insurance purposes. Know how life insurance works in Canada beforehand. Speaking of which, you should also take measures to protect your home before leaving.

Protect your home

Your home is your sanctuary, and if local authorities order it, you will have to leave it. Regardless, it should be part of your emergency preparedness plan. That’s why you need to make an effort to protect it before an evacuation order is issued. Here’s what you can do:

• Take potential fire hazards like dried branches, leaves and debris out of your home.
• Ensure you have a working sprinkler available for use.
• Test your smoke detectors and have one on every level of your home and in as many bedrooms as possible. Smoke detectors are fire safety 101 and shouldn't be ignored.
• Your smoke detectors should be tested at least once per month, and the batteries should be replaced every six months. The entire smoke detector should be replaced every ten years.
• In addition, you will need working carbon monoxide alarms in your home. They are an integral part of carbon monoxide safety.
• Another way to be proactive is to ask your local fire department or qualified engineer how to make your home fire-resistant.
• If you don’t know how already, you should find out how to turn off the utilities in your home. Local authorities will often ask you to do this yourself.

Your home is likely your most valuable asset, and you should strive to keep it safe. Wildfires can wreak havoc over time, and by taking these measures, you will be ready for them. There’s also something else you should know about. Wildfire smoke often carries fine particles that can be hazardous to your health, so you’ll want to prevent them from getting in.

Stay prepared for wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke can result in poor indoor air quality. You should avoid letting wildfire smoke into your home at all costs because smoke inhalation can be super harmful to the lungs. Here’s what you can do ahead of time:

• Seal off all points of entry, including windows and doors.
• Think about purchasing at least one properly-sized portable air purifier.
• Buy a clean, high-quality air filter and air purifier for your ventilation system. Always have extra filters on hand.
• You also make an effort to reduce other sources of indoor air pollution to improve your home air quality.

By utilizing the following resources, you can develop a comprehensive wildfire preparedness plan that enhances your safety and resilience against potential fires. It's important to be aware of the these resources when preparing for a wildfire to ensure your safety and protect your property effectively:

• Air Quality Health Index.
• Info Smog (QC) observation and forecasts.
• WeatherCan app to monitor weather warnings and air quality advisories in your area.
• Weather alerts and air quality advisories.

Wildfires can be quite dangerous, between hot ash and charred trees. However, you should be especially aware of the damage wildfire smoke can cause if it gets in through doors, windows, or other openings. When smoke gets in and conditions worsen, you need an evacuation plan.

Know when to evacuate

In the event that the wildfires worsen, you will need an evacuation plan in place. Having everything you need will reduce your stress and allow you to leave sooner than if you waited until the last minute. Here’s what you need to know about evacuating:

• Pay attention to local radio, television or social media for up-to-date information, warnings, alerts or evacuation orders from authorities and emergency officials.
• If an evacuation order is issued, be ready to leave.
• Grab your emergency kit and any valuables or irreplaceable items and take them to your vehicle to get ready to evacuate.
• Park your vehicle facing forward out of the driveway. Keep your car windows closed.
• If need be, post a message in clear view telling local authorities where the property resident went and how they can be contacted.

When an evacuation order is issued in your area, you should be ready. Sometimes, despite building a defensible space, it’s not enough to keep you safe. It’s best to get out of the danger zone as soon as possible for your safety. Next, we will review what to do during a wildfire.

Protect your home from wildfire and ensure you're covered with the right insurance! Contact BrokerLink today to get comprehensive coverage and peace of mind. Don't wait—safeguard your property now!

Get a home insurance quote 1-866-724-2372

What to do during a wildfire

Inevitably, you’re going to have to deal with a wildfire at some point in your life. That’s why you should be ready for a wildfire event. You never know when a fire can start burning and wreaking havoc in your community. Let’s review what you should know when you’re dealing with a wildfire event below:

Stay informed and safe by listening to instructions from local authorities

During a fire situation, you should stay connected. Local authorities will provide information through various means. This is what you need to do to stay safe and up-to-date during a wildfire:

• Listen to a battery-powered radio or watch TV or social media for warnings, alerts or evacuation orders from local authorities and emergency officials.
• Follow instructions and be ready to evacuate when it’s safe.
• Have your go bag ready with an emergency kit and any other irreplaceable items packed to bring to your car.
• Ensure your vehicle is positioned forward out of the driveway with the car windows closed.
• You could also post a clear message so that local authorities know where you went and how to contact you.

Fire damage can happen rather quickly, especially when heat pockets form and power lines start going down. That’s why it’s important to be aware of what’s going on at all times and to have a backup plan in case you lose power. You should prepare to keep your home safe from the fire during the event.

Keep your home safe

Your home isn’t always a safe location during a wildfire. Sometimes, smouldering debris can fall in front of your house, trapping you inside. However, here’s what you can do whether you can evacuate or not:

• Close your doors and windows.
• Cover vents and other openings that could allow smoke to enter your home.
• To improve visibility, turn off all your home’s lights, including those on the porch, in the garage, and outdoors.
• Put a ladder to the roof in front of your home to help firefighters get inside.
• Move propane BBQs and other combustibles, such as firewood and lawn furniture, away from your home and other structures.
• If you receive an evacuation alert, turn off propane or natural gas.

Be careful during a wildfire. You can keep your home safe by following these steps. At all times, it’s important to avoid exposing yourself to wildfire smoke while allowing an access point for emergency services to get in. After you’ve taken the measures to protect your home, you have to get out of there.

Driving during a wildfire evacuation

The best way to get away from your home as quickly as possible is by driving. For example, when you’re driving at night , you need to take precautions, but there’s even more to worry about. Follow our safe driving tips and take your time by following these steps below when you’re driving when wildfires are ablaze:

• When driving, stay at least 10 metres away from downed power lines to avoid electrocution. Do not drive through areas with downed power lines.
• Never drive a wildfire unless directed by emergency officials.
• Follow evacuation routes.
• Ensure your gas tank is consistently full.
• Monitor your local social media pages and listen to the radio to get more information about wildfires and road closures.
• Have third-party liability car insurance in case you get into a car accident while evacuating.

Driving during a wildfire can be super dangerous. Debris can fall from the trees, and you should avoid hot ash for your personal safety. However, when there’s a wildfire smoke event, things might be different. Let’s review what you should know about those.

Dealing with a wildfire smoke event

Sometimes, a wildfire isn’t severe enough to issue evacuation orders. In some cases, your area might only be dealing with the aftermath of wildfire smoke. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions to protect yourself. Here’s what you need to know about this:

• Use radio, television, and social networks to track air quality statements and advisories in your area.
• You should also monitor the Government of Canada’s current air quality conditions and forecasts for your areas and the Fireworks System, which shows the direction in which the wildfire smoke is travelling.
• Follow health guidance from local authorities.
• Take care of your body. Reduce, reschedule, and stop strenuous outdoor activities. Seek medical attention if you are experiencing symptoms of smoke inhalation.
• In addition to staying inside during a wildfire smoke event, there are also some things you can do to maintain your indoor air quality, including closing your windows and doors. Using clean, high-quality air to keep your ventilation system clear.
• Keeping a certified portable air purifier on hand to filter fine particles out of the air creates your own ventilation system. If you don’t have your own, avoid using exhaust fans such as those in the bathroom.
• Wearing a well-constructed, well-fitting, and broken-in respirator mask (e.g. a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent) can reduce the health risks associated with wildfire smoke. You should also ensure your household numbers are doing okay.
• Look after your mental health.

Wildfire smoke does not pose as big of a threat as its counterparts, but it’s still something to watch out for. It can cause your air quality to deteriorate indoors and outdoors, so it’s important to avoid exposure as much as possible. Next, we will discuss what to do following a wildfire situation.

What to do after a wildfire event

Seeing a wildfire’s impact on your community is difficult. A massive event can devastate small areas and, in some cases, big cities. However, you should be aware of what to do after a wildfire event. Here are some of our tips:

Making your way back to your city

Once emergency organizations such as Red Cross Canada and local authorities have dealt with the wildfires, you can start your journey back home. It will be a long, treacherous road ahead, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some of the things you can do to stay safe when you’re out and about after a wildfire:

• Be careful when walking or driving. Roads will likely be covered with debris, trees might be down, and traffic lights will probably not be working.
• Get medical attention from a healthcare provider if you are injured.
• The ONLY phone calls you should make are ones requesting emergency assistance.
• Stay ten or more metres away from downed power lines to avoid getting electrocuted.
• Never drive-through areas with downed power lines.

Upon returning, you might notice that things look a little different. After all, fire damage is relentless and can make some of your favourite places look unrecognizable. The place you’re most anxious to see is probably your home. That’s why we have compiled a list of things to do when returning home.

Coming home after a wildfire

Coming home after any fire can be difficult. There are so many emotions to process, especially if the place you call home is severely damaged. Luckily, this isn’t always the case, which is why we have instructions on what to do when you come home after a wildfire. The following instructions are:

• Listen to evacuation orders and stay out of the evacuation zone until local authorities say it is safe to return.
• Ask professionals about your utilities. A licensed technician should be the one to turn your natural gas back on.
• Before returning to your home, you should ask local authorities and engineers to assess the structural integrity of your home.
• Take spoiled food out of your fridges and freezers. If it looks bad, toss it.
• Never drink stagnant water from your water tanks.
• Record the damage to your home and property so you can report it for insurance purposes.
• If you use well water, test it to ensure it’s safe for use.

Wildfires are stressful events that can occur anywhere at any time. However, by taking the correct measures, you can prepare. Something as simple as having extra batteries on hand, protecting important documents and using hand sanitizer can make a difference. You won’t have to worry if you know what to do before a wildfire happens.

Contact BrokerLink today!

A wildfire can cause a plethora of damage to your home. That’s why having insurance is so important. Alongside home insurance, you should have a life insurance policy in the event that something happens to you.

Are you looking for life insurance that fits into your estate planning? You might also want to know how much life insurance costs in Canada. Maybe you want to have home insurance to avoid paying out of pocket for wildfire damages. If this is the case, you are smart for thinking ahead. Contact BrokerLink today to find an insurance company that advocates for you with the right policy at an affordable price.

Get a home insurance quote 1-866-724-2372