Wildfire Preparedness Handbook

Defensible space — three zones around your home

Home hardening

• Class A fire-rated roof (composition shingle, metal, or tile) — the roof is the most vulnerable surface.
• Cover all attic, eave, and foundation vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh so embers can’t blow inside.
• Clean gutters and roof valleys of leaves and needles — embers land there first.
• Ember-resistant ground cover (gravel or bare soil) under decks; clear stored items out from underneath.

Plan and alerts

• Make a family communication plan: where you’ll meet, who the out-of-area contact is, what happens if you’re separated when the order comes.
• Sign up for your county’s emergency alerts (see /emergency for sign-up links by state) and keep a backup: a battery or hand-crank NOAA weather radio.
• Know two ways out of your neighborhood — practice both. The obvious route may be blocked.

• N95 or P100 respirators (NIOSH-approved) for each person.
• Water: 3 days’ worth, at 1 gallon per person per day — plus 3 days of non-perishable food.
• Medications: a week’s supply, plus copies of prescriptions.
• Documents: IDs, insurance policies, deeds/titles — physical copies and photos on your phone.
• Cash. Card readers and ATMs fail when the power does.
• Phone chargers and a charged battery pack.
• Flashlight and first aid kit.
• Spare glasses or contacts.
• Sturdy shoes and cotton or wool clothing — not synthetics, which can melt against skin.
• Pet supplies: food, leashes, and carriers for every animal.
• A written list of irreplaceable items (photo albums, hard drives, heirlooms), staged in advance so you can grab them in minutes, not search for them.

Most western states use three levels: Level 1 (Ready) — be aware, prepare to leave; Level 2 (Set) — be ready to leave at a moment’s notice; Level 3 (Go) — leave immediately. Live alerts, official links, and the full level descriptions are on our emergency resources page.

• At Level 2 (Set), anyone who needs extra time — people with mobility issues or medical needs, families with small children, anyone with livestock or large animals — should leave immediately. Don’t wait for Level 3.
• Load go-bags and your staged irreplaceables into the car.
• Back the car into the driveway, facing out, windows up, keys where you can find them.
• Leave gates unlocked so firefighters can access your property.

Respirators

• Use NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirators only. Surgical masks and cloth masks do not filter the fine particles (PM2.5) in wildfire smoke.
• Fit matters: the mask must seal against your face. Beards break the seal. A leaky N95 protects far less than it appears to.

Clean-air room

• Pick one room with few windows and doors. During smoke events, the household lives there.
• Run a HEPA air purifier sized to the room — or build a DIY Corsi-Rosenthal box (below).
• Set HVAC to recirculate and close any fresh-air intake. Skip anything that pulls outdoor air in.

When to act

• Check current air quality at fire.airnow.gov — see also our air quality page.
• Sensitive groups — children, pregnant people, adults 65+, anyone with heart or lung disease — should act one AQI category earlier than the general guidance.
• Cumulative exposure matters: several days of “moderate” smoke add up. Reduce activity and stay in filtered air during multi-day events.

• Read your homeowner’s or renter’s policy now. Look specifically for wildfire exclusions and sublimits — many people discover them only after a loss.
• Walk through your home with your phone camera, room by room, narrating contents — open drawers and closets. Upload the video to cloud storage.
• If your policy is non-renewed, learn your state’s FAIR plan (the insurer of last resort) before you need it.

After a loss

• Document everything — photos and video — before any cleanup begins.
• Beware of public-adjuster scams that appear after disasters. Verify licenses before signing anything.
• If your claim stalls, contact your state insurance commissioner — that is what the office is for.

• Return only after the official all-clear. Hot spots, weakened trees, and downed lines persist for days.
• Ash safety: N95 respirator, gloves, and long sleeves. Wet ash down before sweeping. Never use a leaf blower on ash. Keep children and pets away from ash and debris.
• Water safety: after nearby structure fires, water systems can be contaminated with benzene and other VOCs. Follow do-not-drink / do-not-boil advisories exactly — boiling does NOT remove benzene. Private wells near burned structures should be tested before use.
• Food: discard anything exposed to heat or smoke, including canned goods near the fire and anything in a fridge or freezer that lost power.
• Photograph all damage before cleanup, for insurance claims.

• Check on elderly and disabled neighbors at Level 1, not Level 3. By Level 3 there is no time to help anyone pack.
• Know who on your street would need help evacuating, and who has a truck, a trailer, or a spare seat.
• Dial 211 for shelter information and community resources during an emergency.