| In 2007, a fire started by downed power lines | | | | have the time to cut their way into your yard |
| and driven by 60-80 miles-per-hour wind, | | | | and may move on to the next house. Don't let |
| swept through Malibu. The Sheriffs' | | | | your automatic driveway gate roll closed |
| Department came to our home at 4:30 AM and | | | | behind you. |
| told us we had 15 minutes to evacuate. If it | | | | |
| happens to you, I guarantee you, you will not | | | | Keep the doors and windows to the garage and |
| be thinking clearly. You will be frantic | | | | house itself closed, to prevent any wind |
| getting your spouse, children, pets, and | | | | blown embers from entering. Leave the doors |
| maybe Aunt Millie's picture into the car and | | | | unlocked in case fire personnel have to enter |
| out of the neighborhood. Fortunately, even in | | | | to gain access to a rear deck or other area. |
| the most serious circumstances, you should | | | | |
| have more than 15 minutes notice, and there | | | | Leaving open access to your property is |
| are some simple things you should do. | | | | critical. Of all the instructions concerning |
| | | | fire protection, this is the least mentioned, |
| First, understand how fire protection works. | | | | and one of the most important. |
| If fire weather has been predicted, Fire | | | | |
| crews may be predeployed, which means they | | | | Second - your local hardware or DIY center |
| will be somewhere nearby, ready to respond. | | | | sells wide diameter (up to ¾") garden |
| They are divided up into "strike teams" each | | | | hose. Buy these hoses, connect them into |
| of which consists of five engines, four men | | | | 100-foot lengths and leave them connected to |
| to an engine, and a battalion chief or some | | | | your outdoor spigots. I know, you won't have |
| other officer in command. Strike teams are | | | | time to do this in 15 minutes, but if there |
| going to be doing several things at once. | | | | is any fire risk in your area do it the night |
| Along with other fire crews, they are going | | | | before, or use these hoses for ordinary |
| to be trying to stop or divert an oncoming | | | | watering purposes and leave them out on a |
| fire and, as it nears homes, they will be | | | | regular basis. It's possible there will be no |
| engaged in "structure protection," trying to | | | | water pressure, but it's also possible there |
| prevent your home from burning down. | | | | will be water pressure. |
| | | | |
| If there are strong winds, there may be | | | | Firefighters have to hook their hoses to |
| little they can do but get out of the way. If | | | | nearby hydrants, and run them to their engine |
| there is a possibility of defense, they will | | | | for pressure. The fire hoses can't be |
| try. One engine or more may be on your | | | | everywhere at once, and they are heavy and |
| street, ready to defend nearby homes. This | | | | hard to move around in a split second. If a |
| means 4, maybe 8 or 12, firefighters might | | | | spot fire should start around you house, it |
| have to defend your entire street. If they | | | | is just possible that a wide-diameter garden |
| must to decide which homes to protect, they | | | | hose can be used to extinguish it. |
| will pick the ones which are most accessible. | | | | |
| | | | Third - Get your barbeque propane tank out of |
| Make it easy for the firefighters to defend | | | | the way! If you have a barbeque near your |
| your home. Here is a list of things you must | | | | house, shut the tank valve, disconnect it, |
| do before you evacuate: | | | | and put it out on the street or somewhere |
| | | | away from the house. |
| First - leave the gates to your yard | | | | |
| unlocked. Leave your driveway gate open. I | | | | I've talked about brush clearance in a |
| have watched firefighters using rotary saws, | | | | previous discussion. Brush clearance is |
| heavy bolt cutters and crowbars trying to | | | | critical, but if there is a fire nearby, it's |
| gain access to yards and driveways. If there | | | | too late. |
| are several homes to defend, they may not | | | | |