Blog Post

Preparing the Inside of Your Home to Withstand a Wildfire

Puraka • Sep 21, 2019
Remove flammable items like trash from your house if a wildfire is imminent

 

If an Extreme Fire Behavior alert has been issued for your area, evacuation orders may not be far behind. Because very few plans survive contact with the enemy (the enemy being flames and fumes, in this case), it's important to check as much off your list as possible before the moment arrives. These steps are designed to minimize the risk of the fire moving from the outside of your home to the inside. If evacuation is a possibility, tack this list to your door, and check these items off beforehand, so you can use the time during an actual evacuation to focus on your getting you and your family to safety.

 

  • Remove highly-flammable items like newspaper, trash, cardboard and firewood (obviously) from the premises. This is something you should do as soon as a Red Flag Warning has been issued for your area.
  • Remove curtains and drapes from the window settings. These could be the first items to catch fire, so fold them up and put them in a closet, cupboard, or under a bed.
  • Move interior furniture - especially items that are upholstered - as far from the windows as possible.
  • Switch off your air conditioning or any window fans. Any filter is going to be overwhelmed rapidly if a fire approaches, so don't let your A/C system or cooling units contribute to smoke damage inside your home.
  • Close any windows or doors that connect your house to the outside.
  • Most importantly, have a simple evacuation plan your entire family is familiar with, so that if the order arrives, you're ready to go.

 


We've put together this checklist to help you fireproof the inside of your home in the event that you leave it behind. As you put together your wildfire preparedness plan, remember to include the outside of your home as well by taking steps to clear the yard, clean the gutters, and create a buffer between your home and the fire. Have a suggestion we didn't cover, or want to share a story about prepping the home for evacuation? Leave a comment below!

Free Text Msg. Smoke Alerts

In April, the CDC's NIOSH division recognized ASTM F3502, the the first and only national standard for barrier face coverings. Learn about the filtration and breathability requirements for reusable F3502 masks.

Wildfire preparation plan for 2021
By Puraka 18 Jun, 2021
Wildfire is a risk that you should be well prepared for... they can begin with minimal notice, and have enormous destructive capability.  We've created this checklist to provide you with a wildfire preparation plan that covers the basics and should help keep your home and family protected in the event of a wildfire.
Best face masks for wildfire smoke can filter pm2.5
By Puraka 17 Jun, 2021
The most effective mask to filter smoke pollution is one that's comfortable enough to wear while providing adequate protection. Fitted respirator masks with a (K)N95-rated pm2.5 filter can reduce 90% of airborne particulate matter.
Workplace COVID-19 Prevention Program Checklist
By Puraka 29 Apr, 2021
OSHA's COVID guidelines are a new Temporary Emergency Standard will require employers to supply their workers with masks and maintain a COVID-19 Prevention Program. We show you where to start and offer guidance on what we expect the government to look for in your company's program.
Girl in Hot and Smokey Room
By Puraka 13 Feb, 2021
In the coastal states, a mild climate means many households can make do without air conditioning by leaving the windows open and using fans during the summer months. But how do you safeguard your family from wildfire smoke if it's too hot to close the windows, but you don't have air conditioning?
Are Level Three Surgical Masks the New N95?
By Puraka 20 Jan, 2021
ASTM Level 3 masks are popular alternatives to N95 respirators that seem to offer similar filtration efficiency. These medical grade masks are more regulated than cloth facemasks and pm2.5 filter masks under ASTM F2100, but how effective are procedure masks useful outside of a hospital setting?
Learn how to reduce indoor air pollution
By Puraka 15 Jan, 2021
Even indoors, air pollution is highest during the heat of the day. No matter where you reside, there is pollution in just about every room of your house. Here are the ways to reduce indoor and smoke pollution indoors. Make these changes and upgrade your health!
This is the air quality index chart
By Puraka 02 Sep, 2020
AQI, or Air Quality Index, translates the five main air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, and particle pollution into a number ranging from 0 to 500 along with a color corresponding to specific health risk levels. Learn more about the AQI index here.
PM2.5 Particulate Pollution Can Have Serious Health Impacts
By Puraka 01 Sep, 2020
"Fine" particulate matter, as PM2.5 is referred to by health agencies, means something particularly dangerous to sensitive groups that demands protection. These microscopic particulates, and whatever toxins they may be carrying with them, don't just penetrate your lungs. They can also pass into your bloodstream.
Constructing an Efficient Filtering Facemask
By Puraka 06 Jun, 2020
PM2.5 masks and filters should maximize filtration and comfort, both of which are essential components of face mask efficiency. A mask with a polypropylene liner may be more effective.
Vacuum sucks up wildfire smoke from rug
By Puraka 12 Jan, 2020
Knowing how to remove wildfire smoke smell from home isn't easy, but you can be successful in removing the odor, or wildfire smell from smoke, when following these cleansing techniques.
More Posts
Share by: