Wildfire Preparedness

Wildfire Preparedness

Written by: Amy McVeety

Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner, bringing with it fun activities, trips, and more. It also brings warmer, drier weather, creating conditions that are higher risk for wildfire. While we aren’t in peak fire season yet, it’s important to prepare early, so that you can enjoy summer activities with the peace of mind knowing you’re ready for whatever happens. 

Sign up for Alerts & Know the Evacuation Levels

If you haven’t already, make sure you’re signed up for emergency alerts. This makes sure you get notified of any emergencies, so you can be ready to respond. You can sign up for local alerts by visiting https://www.tillamookcounty.gov/emergency-management/page/test

Oregon uses a three-level stoplight system for evacuations: Level 1, Be Ready; Level 2, Be Set; and Level 3, Go Now. Monitor your alerts, local news sources, and any communications from officials during a wildfire event to know what level you’re in, and if in doubt, consider evacuating. 

Evacuation and Family Plan

Do you know where you would go if you needed to evacuate? What if your main route was blocked or unsafe? It’s important to plan ahead, because during an emergency, you may not have time to find an alternative route. Talk to your family to decide what route(s) you’ll take, where you’ll meet, and how you’ll communicate if you’re separated during an emergency. It’s also important to make plans for different locations, like home, work, school, and anywhere else you may spend time. Wildfires can happen at any time, and it may not be while you’re all together at home.  

Go Bags/Supplies

Having supplies ready to go can make evacuation faster and smoother, especially in complicated situations, such as having kids, pets, or medical needs. Every household should try to have a 3-day kit ready for each member of the family, including water, food, medication, personal documents, and any other individual needs like comfort items or toys. For more information on what to include in a go-bag/emergency kit, visit https://www.ready.gov/kit

Defensible Space

While evacuation and personal preparedness can help keep you and your family safe during a wildfire, you can also take steps to protect your property and home. Having clear defensible space, or the area around your home or business and nearby grass, trees, shrubs, or wildland, is one of the most important ways you can reduce the risk of property loss in a fire. 

The primary goal of defensible space is to remove flammable materials from around your house or other structures. This means cleaning gutters, removing dead leaves or mulch, trimming back bushes and trees (ideally at least a 5 foot gap), and storing firewood or other flammable building materials at least 30 feet away from structures. You can use this checklist from the state Fire Marshal to assess your defensible space: https://www.oregon.gov/osfm/Documents/OSFMDefensibleSpaceAssessmentTool.pdf 

Preparing for an emergency like wildfire can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into smaller steps can make it easy and even fun. Consider making preparedness a family activity, such as taking kids shopping for go-bag supplies, planning out and practicing evacuation and communication plans, and working together to create defensible space. This can help build confidence, relationships, and even be good exercise!

To learn more about preparing for wildfires, visit https://wildfire.oregon.gov/Pages/prepare.aspx

Be Prepared – Not Scared: Emergency Preparedness Takes on New Meaning in Tillamook County after 2020’s Pike Road Fire

Be Prepared – Not Scared: Emergency Preparedness Takes on New Meaning in Tillamook County after 2020’s Pike Road Fire

Tillamook County is known for its emergency preparedness – for storms, winds and floods. Last year’s wildfire in Bay City was a different kind of emergency.  With the early onset of wildfire season in 2021, the Tillamook County board of commissioners gathered local fire departments, state forestry, and county agencies to review the Pike Road fire response and make plans to do better. One of the most important keys for residents is being prepared for ANY emergency and knowing where to go to get accurate information. “One of the most important things people can do is signup for alerts,” said Tillamook County Emergency Manager Gordon McCraw. “If you don’t have a landline anymore, our Everbridge Alert Notification System – when we call you to evacuate – works for the numbers you register, but you gotta signup.”   Here is the link to https://oralert.gov/ and it’s easy to signup. Nixle alerts is another system that Tillamook County uses as well at www.nixle.com.

The extreme wildfires in southern and northeastern Oregon and elsewhere in the region have fire-fighting resources stretched thin according to Kate Skinner, Tillamook District Forester. That’s why it’s even more important that people are prepared and aware of the extremely dry conditions.  Most areas of Oregon are under full fire closures.  If you are travelling, it’s always a good idea to carry a shovel and several gallons of water.  There have been numerous reports of “spot” fires along highways that have been extinguished or stopped from spreading by aware, prepared travelers.

“We know folks are experiencing some stress over the Tillamook State Forest Game Hog Creek Fire, which is now in the mop up stages, so this is an excellent opportunity to set up your emergency preparedness game,” said McCraw. “When you’re prepared for an emergency, any type of emergency, it gives you and your family peace of mind knowing – hey – we’ve got a plan, we have our go-bags, we know what to do.”

Understanding what to do to increase your safety can help address that fear, and if or when you need to evacuate, you can do so safely and be sure to bring:

  • An emergency food and water supply.
  • An emergency medicine supply. Make a plan to keep medications that need refrigeration cold.
  • Emergency power sources for medical devices and flashlights (don’t forget extra batteries).
  • Safety and personal items, including a face covering and hand sanitizer to protect against COVID. Remember: face coverings do not protect against wildfire smoke.
  • Important documents, including medical documents, proof of vaccination, wills, passports and personal identification.

During an emergency is NOT when you should be assembling your go kit or go bag. Now’s the time to do that.  Here is a helpful resource with a list of what to include: https://www.ready.gov/kit. And this website is a great resource for up-to-date information about wildfires across the region: https://wildfire.oregon.gov/

Be Prepared – Not Scared.  Tillamook County is ready for an emergency if all of our residents are prepared as well.  Sign-up for Nixle alerts, make a plan, have your go-bag ready.

AUTHOR: Laura Swanson, Tillamook County Pioneer Editor

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