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If you plan to stay, evacuate all pets and all family members not
essential to protecting the home.
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Be properly dressed to survive the fire. Cotton and wool fabrics are
preferable to synthetics. Wear long pants and boots and carry with you for
protection a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, gloves, a handkerchief to shield
the face, water to wet it, and goggles (for smoke protection only, not for
use close to the fire).
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Remove combustible items around the house. This includes lawn and
pool-side furniture, umbrellas, and tarp coverings. If they catch fire, the
added heat could ignite your house.
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Close outside attic, eave and basement vents. This will eliminate the
possibility of sparks being blown into hidden areas within the house. Close
storm shutters.
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Place large plastic trash cans or bucket around the outside of the house
and fill them with water. Soak burlap sacks, small rugs, large rags. They
can be helpful in beating out burning embers or small fires. Inside the
house fill bathtubs, sinks, and other containers with water. Toilet tanks
and water heaters are an important water reservoir.
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Locate garden hoses so they will reach any place on the house. Use
spray-gun type nozzle, adjusted to spray.
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If you have portable gasoline-powered pumps to take water from a swimming
pool or tank, make sure they are operating and in place.
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Place a ladder against the roof of the house on the side opposite the
approaching fire. If you have a combustible roof, wet it down. Do not waste
water. Waste can drain the entire water system quickly.
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Back your car into the garage and roll up the windows. Disconnect the
automatic door opener (in case of power failure you could not remove the
car). Close all garage doors. Leave a key in the ignition.
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Place valuable papers and mementos in the car for quick departure if
necessary. Any pets still with you should also be put in the car.
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Close windows and doors of the house to prevent sparks from blowing
inside. Close all doors inside the house to prevent drafts. Open the damper
on your fireplace to help stabilize outside-inside pressure, but close the
fireplace screen so sparks will not ignite the room. Turn on a light in each
room to make the house more visible in heavy smoke (for the benefit of
firefighters who may be in the area).
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Turn off all pilot lights.
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If you have time, take down your drapes and curtains. Close all Venetian
blinds or fire-resistive window coverings to reduce the amount of heat
radiating into your home. This gives added safety in case the windows give
way because of heat or wind.