What Are Wildfires?

Wildfires are fires that initially spring up in wilderness areas.  They can occur in forests, brush land, or even on open plains.  The great danger to any wildfire is that it will spread from uninhabited areas to places where people live.  When a wildfire spreads to inhabited spots, the potential for loss of life and property damage is great.  The wildfires that have recently caused so much destruction in California are a reminder that Mother Nature has a mean streak.

One of the worst wildfires to occur in the United States happened in northern Wisconsin in 1871.  It had been very dry and hot, and it is thought that the high winds that accompanied a cold front fanned several smaller fires into the firestorm.  Up to 2,500 people died in the Pestigo fire.

Where Can Wildfires Happen?

Except for the desert regions of the United States, wildfires can occur almost anywhere in the country.  They are most likely to occur in regions where the weather has been dry for a long time and the temperature high and where there is available fuel, such as trees, brush, or grass.  The place that can be most dangerous during a wildfire situation is where the wilderness meets the suburbs.  There is fuel available both from natural and manmade sources here.

What To Do In Case Of A Wildfire

When you and your family are confronted with a wildfire situation, you will probably need to get out of the area as quickly as possible.  These fires can race along at the speed of the wind, so you can actually get a wildfire that can tear along at 30 miles per hour or more. 

Families seldom spend their entire day together, there is school, work, and shopping.  Before a wildfire strikes make plans.  You should have a plan that will be instituted if you are all at home, and a plan that will enable you to get together if scattered.  The plan should include meeting places both in your neighborhood and outside of it.  Once the fire is racing through your neighborhood, you will not be able to search for stray family members.  The best way to ensure everyone’s safety is to make sure they know where to go.

Emergency Kit

As with so many other situations, having an emergency kit ready to roll will help make your evacuation easier.  Have the kit situated near the door in a backpack or other easily carried container.  There should be bottled water in it, emergency food, copies of medical prescriptions, and first aid kit.

It would also be helpful if you have some extra blankets and clothing either in the car, or ready to be taken in the event of an evacuation. 

Also, be sure that there is gas in the car at all times when there is the danger of wildfire, at a time like this, it would not do to run out of gas.

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