Year after year, The west coast goes through brutal wildfire seasons due to massive droughts and hot summer days. Fire seasons have become longer and more merciless within the last six years. If you live within 100 miles of a wildfire, you will likely see ash fall like snow from orange-colored skies. More importantly, if you live in an area vulnerable to wildfires, make sure you know these five ways to prepare your home for fire season to help prepare you and your household.

Create an Evacuation Plan

Before fire season begins, you should create a plan for what you and your household will do in case there’s an emergency evacuation. You need to become familiar with potential escape routes in your city and decide which path will lead you to a safe zone. This emergency plan should include phone numbers, items to take with you, and destinations to go after reaching safety.

Have a Safety Bag Ready

When a fire rapidly spreads, you won’t have time to get a safety bag together. Make sure that you’ve prepared a fire safety bag in advance. This bag should have enough items in it to last you for a few days and nights. In this bag, there should be:

• Clothes
• First-aid kit
• Flashlights
• Extra car keys
• Food
• Water
• Phone chargers

Clean the Outside of Your Home

One of the safety measures you should take to prepare your home for California’s fire season is cleaning the outside of your home. You can protect your property by cleaning your gutters, having fire-resistant plants, and trimming all the greenery in your yard. Try also to keep your garden and plants away from wooden fences. You should also create a defensible space about 100 feet from your home. This space should be free of any greenery to lessen the chances that your house catches fire.

Make a “Clean” Room

A clean room is a safe room in the house that is made to keep levels of fire particles and smoke down to a minimum. This room should be free from smoking, cooking, or candle lighting. The doors and windows should always be closed to prevent particles and smoke from entering. Add an air purifier to help clean the air regularly.

Stock Up on Medication and Food

Like any natural disaster, you should stock up on food and medication in case of a shutdown or other emergencies. You don’t want to breathe in ash and particles from the nearby fires. Several days’ worth of food and medications will prevent you from needing to venture outside. You should purchase non-perishable foods just in case of a power outage.

Another way to prepare your household for California’s fire season is to obtain rental, home, and auto insurance. You should protect yourself and your finances by protecting the valuables inside your house and car. Saferoad Insurance Services provides insurance in Long Beach, California, and all surrounding cities. Our top priority is to ensure you stay safe while saving money.