Wildfire Survival & Evacuation

Wildfires are spreading farther, burning hotter, and moving faster than ever before. Modern wildfires can travel at speeds exceeding 20 km/h (12 mph) in flat terrain and much faster downhill or in high winds. In 2018, the Camp Fire in California destroyed the town of Paradise in just 8 hours, killing 85 people — many of them caught trying to evacuate too late. In Australia, the 2019–2020 bushfires burned over 18 million hectares. The single greatest factor in wildfire survival is leaving early.

Wildfires kill in three primary ways: direct flame contact, radiant heat (which can ignite materials and cause fatal burns from a distance), and smoke inhalation — the most common cause of wildfire fatalities. This guide addresses all three.

Understanding Wildfire Behaviour

Wildfires move fastest and most unpredictably under these conditions:

Factor	Effect
Strong wind	Dramatically accelerates spread, carries embers 2+ km ahead of fire front
Dry conditions	Fuel (vegetation) ignites more easily and burns hotter
Slope	Fire moves uphill faster than downhill — steep terrain is extremely dangerous
Dry vegetation	Grass fires spread faster than forest fires but are less intense
Wind change	A sudden shift in wind direction can trap people who thought they were safe

⚠️ Embers are the primary threat to homes during wildfires. Burning embers can travel 2 km (1.2 miles) or more ahead of the fire front and land on roofs, decks, and in gutters. Most homes do not burn from direct flame contact — they ignite from embers landing on combustible surfaces.

Before Wildfire Season — Prepare Your Property

Create Defensible Space

Defensible space is a buffer zone around your home that reduces the fuel available to the fire and gives it time to burn out before reaching your structure.

Zone 1 — 0 to 9 metres (0–30 feet) from the house:

• Remove all dead vegetation
• Trim tree branches to at least 2 metres (6 feet) above the ground
• Keep grass mowed to 10 cm (4 inches) or less
• Remove any wood piles, propane tanks, or flammable objects from this zone

Zone 2 — 9 to 30 metres (30–100 feet) from the house:

• Thin trees so crowns are at least 3 metres (10 feet) apart
• Remove dead branches and ground-level shrubs between trees
• Create vertical separation — remove ladder fuels (shrubs under trees that allow fire to climb)

Harden Your Home

• Gutters: Clear of leaves and debris — install metal gutter guards
• Vents: Install fine mesh screens (2 mm / 1/16 inch or smaller) on all vents including under eaves
• Roof: Replace wood shingles with fire-resistant materials if possible
• Deck/patio: Remove wood furniture, rubber doormats, and flammable items before fire season
• Windows: Double-pane windows provide significantly more resistance than single-pane
• Garage door: Ensure it seals well — embers can enter through gaps

Prepare a Go-Bag for Wildfire

Item	Notes
N95 / P2 respirator masks	One per person — critical for smoke inhalation protection
Goggles	Smoke and ash are extremely irritating to eyes
Cotton or wool clothing	Synthetic fabrics melt onto skin; cotton/wool is far safer
Water	4 litres per person minimum
First aid kit	Include burn dressings
Torch + batteries	Smoke can reduce visibility to near zero even at midday
Phone charger	Fully charged backup battery
Important documents	In a fireproof or waterproof bag
Cash
Medications	30-day supply if possible

Plan and Register

1. Know your local fire risk rating system and how to access current fire danger information (app, radio, website).
2. Know two evacuation routes out of your area.
3. Register your address with emergency services if a vulnerable person registration system exists in your area.
4. Have a planned destination (friend, family, or designated evacuation centre) outside the fire zone.

When to Evacuate

The safest decision is to leave early — before you are told to.

Wildfire evacuation orders are issued on a spectrum:

Alert Level	Meaning	Action
Watch / Advisory	Fire in the area — conditions may require evacuation	Prepare to leave, load vehicle
Warning / Prepare to Leave	Fire is threatening your area	Leave now if vulnerable or unsure
Evacuation Order (Mandatory)	Immediate danger to life	Leave immediately — do not delay

⚠️ Do not wait for a mandatory evacuation order if you have any doubt. Fires move faster than orders are issued. When roads are clogged with evacuees, traffic stops — and a fire can outrun stopped traffic. Many fatalities occur in vehicles on blocked evacuation routes.

Leave early if you:

• Have children, elderly family, pets, or livestock
• Have a medical condition that slows movement
• Live on a single-access road
• Are in a high-risk zone (listed on fire risk maps)

During Evacuation

1. Take your go-bag, documents, medications, and pets.
2. Close (but do not lock) all doors and windows — this slows fire progression through your home significantly.
3. Turn off all gas appliances.
4. Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible in smoke.
5. Drive with headlights on — smoke can reduce visibility severely.
6. Follow the official evacuation route — do not improvise unless the route is blocked by fire.
7. If you see fire on your route, turn around and take an alternative route. Do not drive through smoke or fire.

Sheltering in Place — Last Resort

If you cannot evacuate and fire has trapped you, sheltering in the most fire-resistant part of your building may be your best option. This should be treated as a last resort.

1. Move to a room with the fewest windows and exterior walls — a bathroom is often the best option.
2. Close all doors to slow smoke infiltration — seal gaps with wet towels or clothing.
3. Fill bathtubs and sinks with water.
4. Turn off gas at the main valve.
5. Turn on all lights to improve visibility in smoke.
6. Call emergency services and tell them your exact location.
7. Signal your presence from a window when the fire front passes.

⚠️ The fire front itself passes relatively quickly — 30 seconds to a few minutes in most cases. The greatest danger during shelter-in-place is smoke inhalation before and after the front passes. Wearing an N95 mask and staying low (cleaner air is lower) significantly improves survival odds.

If You Are Caught Outside

If fire overtakes you outdoors with no shelter available:

1. Find a depression, ditch, or open area with minimal vegetation — lie face down.
2. Cover your body with dirt or a non-synthetic blanket, coat, or anything available.
3. Cover your face and airways with a cloth — breathe through it.
4. Remain calm and still — the fire front passes quickly; movement attracts attention from rescuers after the front passes.

Never shelter under or near a vehicle unless it is your absolute last option — fuel tanks can explode. If you must shelter in a vehicle, park off the road, turn engine off, headlights on, close all vents, cover yourself with a woollen blanket, lie below the window level, and call emergency services.

After the Wildfire

Re-entry Safety

• Do not return until authorities declare it safe.
• Wear N95 or P2 respirator, long sleeves, and goggles — ash contains toxic compounds including heavy metals and carcinogens.
• Watch for hotspots — areas that appear cooled can reignite. Approach carefully.
• Avoid any downed power lines.
• Check the structural integrity of your building before entering — fire damage may not be visible from outside.

Air Quality After a Wildfire

Smoke from wildfires contains fine particles (PM2.5) and toxic gases. Even after visible smoke clears:

• Wear an N95/P2 mask when outdoors in affected areas
• Run air purifiers or air conditioners with recirculation mode indoors
• Avoid exercising outdoors
• Children, elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions are most vulnerable

Water Safety

Wildfire can contaminate municipal water systems through:

• Plastic pipes melting and leaching chemicals into water
• Ash and contaminants entering water sources

Wait for official confirmation that water is safe before drinking or cooking with tap water after a wildfire.

Quick Reference — Wildfire Survival

Situation	Action
Fire watch/advisory issued	Prepare go-bag, load vehicle, clear patio of combustibles
Evacuation warning issued	Leave now — take go-bag, pets, documents
Evacuation order issued	Leave immediately — every minute matters
Road blocked by fire	Turn back, take alternative route — never drive through fire
Trapped in building	Close all doors, fill sinks/tubs, seal gaps, call emergency services
Caught outside with no shelter	Lie in a depression, cover with non-synthetic material, protect airways
Returning after fire	Wear N95, check structure before entry, avoid ash contact

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This guide is for general preparedness education. In an emergency, always follow the instructions of local emergency services and fire authorities. Wildfire behaviour is highly variable — your local fire service is the best source of specific guidance for your region.