Wildland Safety

Wildland Safety

  • Make a preplan.
  • Build or re-roof your home with fire resistive roofing materials.
  • Clear pine needles, leaves or other debris from your roof and gutters.
  • Remove any dead branches overhanging your roof.
  • Remove any tree branches within 10 feet of your chimney.
  • Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with a non flammable screen of ½ inch or smaller mesh.
  • Build or re-model your home with fire resistive materials, such as brick or stucco.
  • Enclose the underside of balconies or ground decks with fire resistive materials.
  • Limit the number of windows that face large areas of vegetation. Install double or triple pane windows to reduce the potential of breakage in a fire.
  • When a brush fire threatens, place a lawn sprinkler or garden hose on the roof. Do not turn the water on until you see flying embers falling on the roof.
  • When a brush fire threatens place all ladders against the street side of your home, so anyone who stops to help can see them.
  • Create a “defensible space” by removing all dry grass, brush, and dead leaves at least 100 feet from you home. Use ornamental landscaping plants that are fire resistant.
  • Trees taller that 18 feet can be pruned to keep the ground fires from spreading to the tree tops by pruning the lower branches within 6 feet of the ground
  • Stack firewood and scrap wood piles at least 30 feet away from structures. Clear flammable vegetation that is within 10 feet of these wood piles.
  • Locate LPG tanks (butane and Propane) away from any combustibles.
  • Turn off gas at the meter or turn off the LPG tank before you evacuate.
  • Defensible space must be regularly maintained to be effective.
  • Clearly mark all emergency water sources and maintain easy firefighter access to these water sources.
  • If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency generator to operate the pump during power failure.
  • You should know at least two exit routes from you neighborhood in case of emergency evacuation.
  • Make sure that any road leading up to your house allows two-way traffic, is not too steep and does not have curves too sharp to accommodate large emergency vehicles.
  • Driveways and bridges must be strong enough to carry heavy emergency vehicles, including bulldozers carried on large trucks.
  • Make sure dead-end roads and long driveways have turnaround areas that are wide enough for emergency vehicles.
  • Your house address and street name should be printed in numbers and letters that are at least four inches tall, on a contrasting color background. They should be visible from all directions of travel from at least 150 feet.
  • Be sure that your street name and house number are not duplicated elsewhere in the county.
  • If your house is set back from your street or road, post your address at the entrance of your driveway.
  • Store at least a three-day supply of drinking water. Store food that does not require refrigeration and generally does not need cooking, Be sure to include food and water for your pets.
  • Store first aid supplies, portable radio, flashlight, emergency cooking equipment, portable lanterns and batteries.
  • Prepare a list of valuables to take with you in case of evacuation. If possible, store these valuables together to save time.
  • Prepare a list of valuables to take with you in case of evacuation
  • Pre-plan an escape route from your home and neighborhood. Designate an emergency meeting place for the reunion of your family members in separate vehicles and establish a contact point to communicate with concerned relatives.
  • Practice your home escape plan regularly.
  • Nail plywood covers over windows and vents when a brush fire threatens you home.
  • Move any lawn furniture indoors and keep combustible furniture away from the windows.
  • Turn on the lights in the house, porch, garage and yard so firefighters can find your home.
  • Park your car in the garage headed out for a quick get-away if needed.
  • Leave keys in the ignition.
  • Close all house doors, windows and garage door but leave them unlocked.
  • Remove light weight curtains and close heavy drapes and blinds before leaving the home.
  • If you lack a garage space, park vehicles in the direction of escape.
  • Don’t forget the family pets.
  • Close all windows so that airborne sparks and embers cannot enter and ignite the upholstery of the vehicle.

Translate disclaimer

The VCFD.org website has been translated for your convenience using translation software powered by Google Translate. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace human translators. Translations are provided as a service to users of the VCFD.org website, and are provided “as is.” No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, or correctness of any translations made from English into any other language. Some content (such as images, videos, Flash, etc.) may not be accurately translated due to the limitations of the translation software.

The official text is the English version of the website. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translation are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or enforcement purposes. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in the translated website, please refer to the English version of the website which is the official version.