Are you Ready?

Los Angeles is home to beautiful canyons, mountain ranges, and winding scenic roads. It's also home to wildfires, often also called brush fires.

The most unpredictable and dangerous fire you're likely to encounter is a wind-driven wildfire. As winds change intensity and direction, a wildfire can either lay down and smolder, or it can turn into a roaring freight train. Knowing how to protect your home, your family, and when to leave in the event of a wildfire will be essential if you are to remain safe when disaster strikes.

To help the community better understand the issues related to preparing for a wind-driven wildfire, the Los Angeles Fire Department is  partnering with Cal Fire, the Orange County Fire Authority, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department, Riverside County Fire Department, and other agencies to create Ready, Set, Go.

Get Ready:

The first step is to prepare your property, home, and family to be prepared in the event of a wildfire.

Watch the Ready, Set, Go video: [ Go! video ]

Watch the Evacuation video: [ Evacuation video ]

Additional Materials:

Download the Family Safety PDF here!

Download the Ready, Set, Go, LA! information brochure: Click Here.

Learn about creating an Escape Plan: Learn More.

Visit the LAFD Brush Clearance website: Click Here.

Get the LAFD Brush Clearance brochure. Download the PDF document.

Inventory Your Home For Evacuation Readiness: Coming September 2010.

You can help protect your property by creating defensible space around your home. That means removing brush for a minimum of 100 feet. Be sure there are no tree limbs hanging over your house and the roof and gutters are free of leaves, pine needles and other debris. Make sure ornamental shrubbery is set back from the sides of your home and that leaves under them are cleared away. One of the most common dangers in a wildfire is free-falling embers landing in these places and igniting your home.

Replace shake-shingle roofs with tile or other fire-resistant materials. Use fire-safe building materials when constructing or remodeling your home and plant fire-resistant landscaping.

Assemble emergency supplies and prepare a list of the things you want to take with you if you need to evacuate. Remember to think about things like cash, medications, phone chargers, computers and food for your pets. Plan your escape routes; you should know at least two different ways out of your neighborhood.

Get Set:

If a wildfire threatens your neighborhood, act immediately. Back your vehicle into the driveway with the hood (front) facing the street. Next, roll up the windows, and load your vehicle with everything you want to take with you. Make certain your valuables are either in your vehicle, or are safety stored in a (fireproof) safe.

Remove flammable materials from around your house. This includes patio furniture, firewood, decorations and anything else that could catch fire. Then monitor the news, your fire department’s Web site, and MySafe:LA for information regarding the fire. Don't forget to check the resources here in the MySafe:LA website for additional information on news and emergency agencies.

Go!

In the past, the LAFD and other city agencies suggested residents await evacuation instructions prior to leaving their homes. The latest information suggests that you should not wait to be told to leave. Go early! If you've followed the suggestions noted here in the MySafe:LA website, as well as those related publications on the subject, you've already done what you can to protect your home and property. Firefighters need room in which to work. By leaving, you give them the best chance to protect your property.

Los Angeles Equestrian Evacuation Center: Pierce College

Think Clearly!

Leaving your home when a wildfire is approaching is a difficult and emotional decision. Many people believe that by staying behind, you will have a better chance of saving your home. During the past year, a growing discussion regarding "stay and defend" has been discussed by both city and fire service officials. The recent disasters in Australia, where so many lives were lost, combined with all of the experience gained in past California wildfires makes it clear that the "stay and defend" hypothisis may sound plausable on paper, but is extremely dangrous in real-life. People decide to stay before the fire front arrives. When it does, many people change their mind (or panic) and decide to leave - and at that time, it's too late. Many fatalities that have occurred in wildfires around the world are the result of people leaving too late.

This is preliminary information on the Ready, Set, Go, LA! wildfire safety plan. In the coming few weeks, additional information will be available on the following topics:

• Creating Defensible Space
• Creating an Evacuation/Survival Kit
• Interior Readiness Checklist
• Exteriod Readiness Checklist
• New Ready, Set, Go, LA! Video

If you're interested in learning more about the Ready, Set, Go, LA! program, we invite you to REGISTER in our secure Los Angeles resident database. You can also send us an This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you want to learn more.

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