You have only 5 minutes....

[havasu]

So, let's play a "what if" game.

You hear that there is a fire headed in your direction, and have been given 5 minutes to evacuate and leave your house.
*Do you stay and fight?
*Do you grab your bug out bag and leave?
*Do you first care for your animals and hope you have enough time to leave?
*Do you grab what is important and leave?

What is a priority to you?

 

[Pearl]

Stay and fight!! I probably couldn't get out of my woodsy dead end road! I couldn't get all the animals out in that time, I'd stay and fight for them!!

 

[Sourdough]

I would not stay. Not sure how I would evacuate, but that would be the goal.

 

[Magus]

Depends if I have water pressure. If I do, I fight. I'd be an hour rounding up the cats and getting my good stuff anyway.

We had a chlorine leak a few years back, I put on a gas mask and rode it out since the winds were with me,

 

[havasu]

I'll add, just to give you a personal viewpoint, I was the person who was ordered to go into these housing tracts, and give them 5 minutes to evacuate. The decision to evacuate was made by our local Emergency Services Staff, who was about 15 minutes away, and used the old adage, "better to err on the side of caution", when deciding to evacuate. Most, if not all of the times, I was ordered to begin the evacuation of a neighborhood. I looked at the wind direction, the proximity of trees and brush, and I could pretty much tell where the fire was headed, and thought to myself that this was a waste of time. But remember, everyone has a boss, so I too was ordered to give the order.

 

[backlash]

I would stay and fight. We would gather up important stuff just in case.
We live in an area with few trees but lots of farm land so forest fires are not a problem.
Some other disaster like flooding which is a very unlikely event would be different. There would be no way to stop the flood.

 

[havasu]

I would stay and fight. We would gather up important stuff just in case.
We live in an area with few trees but lots of farm land so forest fires are not a problem.
Some other disaster like flooding which is a very unlikely event would be different. There would be no way to stop the flood.

A great response! Each and every disaster needs a different thought process. All I'd like is for everyone to consider you and your family's personal options.

 

[Caribou]

It depends on which direction the fire is coming from. From the north I have a good firebreak. Coming from the west I have a fair firebreak but that is my escape route. To the east there is a firebreak that is maintained by the utility company. Right now it is overgrown but next year, or so, they will come in and clear it out. The south is my big threat. My house is too close to the neighbours trees.

My home is not particularly fire resistant. The asphalt shingle roof will resist some amount of burning ash but radiant heat will get through the fire resistance. A metal roof is in the long term plan. I have wood as exterior walls. I have yet to determine what the new wall surface but it will be fire resistant. Ballistic resistance is a bonus.

 

[Morgan101]

I would grab what we need and leave. There are trees close enough to the house to make them a danger. "What we need" is accessible in BOB's and could be put in the car in 5 minutes, including the dog and his BOB.

 

[Caribou]

I lived with my grandparents while a freshman in college. We had a wildfire headed our way. We loaded up our vehicles and had them pointed at the long driveway. Fire jumping the road behind us was the signal to leave. When we saw smoke on our side of the road Grandpa ran over to confirm and discovered that it was just smoke coming through the culvert. Today there is one row of houses on our side of that road. The fire never crossed the road but that was how close we were to evacuation.

My point is this. Whether you evacuate or not getting prepped for an evacuation may not be a bad idea.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Right now our property is in the middle of a Forest Service prescribed burn. The fire got away from them in a few places but they got the spot fires out in a hurry. I've been very pleased with the forest service and their effort to protect our property.
About 3 years ago a forest fire started about 40 miles south of our place. It burned to within a mile from our property. We evacuated for 1 day when the fire looked like it could make it to our house. We took a few personal things and loaded up the tractor and ATV's on the trailer and opened the gates to let the cattle out. We gave the FS permission to set up on one of our hilltops to direct the fire retardant drops. Also gave them permission to dip water out of our pond with the helicopters.
A year before that fire there was another fire that burned completely through one of our other properties.
Fire is our biggest concern where we live.

 

[Morgan101]

Fire is our biggest concern where we live.

I think that is a big concern for many of us. I am in more of a suburban environment, and forest fire or wild fire would be extremely unlikely, but in a different scenario where we bug in, what is to stop a looter from torching your house? We have no defense against fire.

 

[havasu]

We gave the FS permission to set up on one of our hilltops to direct the fire retardant drops. Also gave them permission to dip water out of our pond with the helicopters.

I often wondered how this worked. Is it necessary to provide verbal or even written consent before using your personal water to fight a wildfire in your area?

 

[Weedygarden]

I have seen people post in places that they will never "bug out." I don't know that this would be considered "bugging out," but if you get word that you need to evacuate, there are a number of factors involved. What happened in Hawaii is a good thing for any of us to make note of. Would we have water, or not? Will the water pressure be too low to do anything for us? Would we die if we didn't leave? Where would we go? Do we have ourselves prepared enough to evacuate at a moments notice?

 

[Caribou]

I often wondered how this worked. Is it necessary to provide verbal or even written consent before using your personal water to fight a wildfire in your area?

I'm unsure about State or federal firefighters. The local fire chief owns the fire and all the assets around it. If he deems it necessary the fire chief can demolish your uninvolved home to create a firebreak. If memory serves me, San Francisco dynamited several large buildings to form a firebreak.

Except for arson or a home fire Mom's home is really not much of a fire hazard even though it is in the middle of a forest. We get 150" to over 200" of rain/yr. It is a rain forest.

My home has a larger fire hazard though there are many roads to stop a fire so it would likely have to be a local ignition point. My biggest threats are quakes and volcanoes.

 

[Alaskajohn]

For this scenario I am going to assume this is a today event. I say this as I have already drained and stored all of my extensive rainwater collection system for the winter, all garden hoses and outside faucets have been winterized. Temps are already in the low 20s at night.

I am grabbing my bug out bag and leaving. I have no means to fight a major wild fire today. However, no one will likely alert me and I live in an area where I can’t readily get AM/FM radio. But if a fire is coming fast, you will smell the smoke so this would likely be my warning. I am high up on a hill so I will also see the direction it is coming from so I will know which of the two options I will need to take when I get to the road. That will be either left or right which would commit me to that direction for several hours until I get any other options on direction.

If it was summer I might stay and fight and send the wife and dog off. I have extensive fire stand off, taking fire protective measures on my place, and I have some means to fight only in summer. It’s impossible to get home insurance where I live so I will want to try and protect what I have.

 

[Sourdough]

I am deep-deep rural in a National Forest only accessible and only escapable by a 17-mile dead end road. If that road was cut-off by fire, I would be pretty much SOL. Without helicopter rescue, there would be zero hope. Only hope would be to head to the ocean beach and hope it went around that location.

 

[Alaskajohn]

I am deep-deep rural in a National Forest only accessible and only escapable by a 17-mile dead end road. If that road was cut-off by fire, I would be pretty much SOL. Without helicopter rescue, there would be zero hope. Only hope would be to head to the ocean beach and hope it went around that location.

I was thinking about the Maui fire and how some escaped by going into the ocean. In your case, if one didn’t get stuck in the mud heading out to the water, one would die by hypothermia in minutes if you made it to the water. Not a viable option.

For me, I know the direction of the prevailing winds and have built good defenses around this. However, leaving my place my private road head’s straight into the prevailing winds. My decision will need to be quick. Once I get to the road, I can immediately head opposite of the prevailing winds.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I often wondered how this worked. Is it necessary to provide verbal or even written consent before using your personal water to fight a wildfire in your area?

Yes. I gave them written permission to use our water. In return, after the fire is out, they will replace the water they used, plus they'll replace the fish too.
For us the FS service has been great to work with. They've agreed to replace any fence posts they burn too. I gave them verbal permission to stage equipment and personnel on our property. It's beneficial to us since the fire line is several miles long.
Right now they have 20-25 trucks and maybe 50 firefighters scattered around our property. Plus a helicopter flying along our north and west lines dropping fire pellets.

 

[backlash]

I often wondered how this worked. Is it necessary to provide verbal or even written consent before using your personal water to fight a wildfire in your area?

In Washington they will use any and all water sources available. Fire fighting takes priority over everything except saving people.
They will not ask for permission and if you try to stop them you probably will be arrested on the spot.
My nephew was directing a helicopter dipping water from a guys irrigation pond. The guy came out with his AR and told him to stop. He gave the guy 2 options leave and put his gun away or be arrested and maybe shot if he got aggressive.
He left before the county sheriff showed up.
There may be a way to get paid for the water after the fact but I'm not sure of that.

 

[Sourdough]

In your case, if one didn’t get stuck in the mud heading out to the water, one would die by hypothermia in minutes if you made it to the water.

True, but it would reduce the direction of threat by 50 may be 70 percent. I have long figured my risk of death or injury to be greater from forest fire then any danger from a human.

 

[Alaskajohn]

True, but it would reduce the direction of threat by 50 may be 70 percent. I have long figured my risk of death or injury to be greater from forest fire than any danger from a human.

Forest or cabin fire can be a life changing event. My number one threat as well, and I do prepare for this. The nice and functional bear cache on my property has been repurposed as a place to store what I would need to survive if I had to bail out of my cabin at 2 am on some dark and frigidly cold February morning. Here seconds would be determining survival.

 

[havasu]

Those hose draggers (a loving cop/fireman banter), I would have a fridge stocked with beverages, I'd set up some throw away Red Cross cots, and have a TV ready, so they would feel welcome and protect your property!

 

[Mountain trapper]

In Washington they will use any and all water sources available. Fire fighting takes priority over everything except saving people.
They will not ask for permission and if you ty to stop them you probably will be arrested on the spot.
My nephew was directing a helicopter dipping water from a guys irrigation pond. The guy came out with his AR and told him to stop. He gave the guy 2 options leave and put his gun away or be arrested and maybe shot if he got aggressive.
He left before the county sheriff showed up.
There may be a way to get paid for the water after the fact but I'm not sure of that.

Fortunately the people that I deal with here don't act like little Marxist thugs. They asked for permission and I gladly gave it to them. Years ago before we moved on to the property they used our pond to fight a fire in the area. We weren't here for them to ask. I was fine with them using our water, especially since they will replace whatever water they use. The only time that I'd have a problem is if they took all the water and didn't replace it right away. Our pond is the main source of water for our cattle. The fire bosses and the District Ranger all know us very well, and we have a great relationship.

 

[Caribou]

Yes. I gave them written permission to use our water. In return, after the fire is out, they will replace the water they used, plus they'll replace the fish too.
For us the FS service has been great to work with. They've agreed to replace any fence posts they burn too. I gave them verbal permission to stage equipment and personnel on our property. It's beneficial to us since the fire line is several miles long.
Right now they have 20-25 trucks and maybe 50 firefighters scattered around our property. Plus a helicopter flying along our north and west lines dropping fire pellets.

Control fires and control burns are a great way to deal with fires and future fire threats. Establishing a relationship with the fire fighting organizations in your area is a good plan. If you are one of the good guys, in their view, they will go the extra mile to protect your home and property.

I visited a cousin. He lived on 10 acres in a wooded area in Northern California. He was concerned about wild fire. He asked me how to protect his home. He also remarked about his plan to replace his roof. I told him to replace his roof with a white metal roofing. He did that and a few other ideas that I gave him. A few short years later a fire did run through his area. He evacuated only to return to the fire crew camped on his porch. He had built a defensible area. His neighbour hadn't and they let it burn. They have limited resources so they put their efforts where they think they have a chance.

If you have to evacuate, and if you have the time, put an ice filled chest with water and soda outside. Label it "For The Firefighters" and if the ice is made with potable water put that on the sign as well. Hydration is important for them to fight effectively.

 

[sonya123]

for us, if the fire was on our side of the river I would try to get all the animals down the road and across the bridge to the other side , there is only pasture and a few houses between us and the river, not sure that could catch on fire, it's pretty green here. The woods are above us and some next to the house, so that could potentially burn but 5 minutes is not much , I would probably want to get our vehicles down the road really fast , they would be closest to the woods

 

[Magus]

Those hose draggers (a loving cop/fireman banter), I would have a fridge stocked with beverages, I'd set up some throw away Red Cross cots, and have a TV ready, so they would feel welcome and protect your property!

Good idea! and since the power is probably out, throw our defenders a BBQ!

 

[Hardcalibres]

We have spent 15 years setting our place up so that we can fight a fire, rather than leave. Those preps include:

1. Cleared area about 300 yards from the house/outbuildings - so only grass any closer than that
2. Firebreaks between the grass and lawn
3. Lawn immediately around the house that is kept green (reticulation)/mowed over summer - about 2 acres of it
4. Fire resistant house - brick walls, steel roof, non-flammable insultation directly under the roof sheets, sealed eaves, clean gutters
5. Fire fighting water - 35,000 gallons of it in tanks and more than a million gallons in dams/ponds
6. Fire fighting equipment - gasoline and diesel powered water pumps and hoses - up to 100 gallons per minute flow rate
7. Fire fighting plan - local volunteers know our house, consider it "defensible" (perhaps the most defensible in the area) and will fight to save it (because it can be saved) - they know it is strong enough to withstand direct air drops. They have mentioned they might ask to use our place to locate the command post, as it is a good spot for that......

If we have to leave, then we have a camper trailer ready to go on short notice and good fire resistant/off road capable vehicles to tow it.

Fires have come close to us before. We "stood to" ready to fight the fire.

 

[havasu]

After using over 100 bags of red bark for our planters, I saw a notice that spreading bark is an invitation to a disaster. Although bark is great for weed control and keeps moisture in the soil for plant growth, it also aids in burning a house down.

 

[Aerindel]

So, let's play a "what if" game.

You hear that there is a fire headed in your direction, and have been given 5 minutes to evacuate and leave your house.
*Do you stay and fight?
*Do you grab your bug out bag and leave?
*Do you first care for your animals and hope you have enough time to leave?
*Do you grab what is important and leave?

What is a priority to you?

Been in there, a few months ago. Its a long story and I'm working to write it down.

But in short, what I did was turn to my wife and yell 'Defcon 2!, this is not a drill', jumped in my car, and headed out to find the fire and fight it.

What unfolded turned out to be about a two month ordeal with many failures and successes. I will eventually give you guys a full AARP.

The biggest success, was the Defcon system my wife and I had worked out many many years ago. With just a few words, I was able to run off, with full confidence that all the right things would be done at home. And they where. I was very proud of her.

Like Hardcalibers, I have spent many years preparing to fight the fire. I would only leave, if the house was already on fire. At no point during the 'evacuation' order period, did I evacuate.

This was one day of my fire, from near my place: