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