Forest Fire Safety Tips
There are approximately 8,000 forest fires in Canada each year.
Fires caused by lightning represent 45 per cent of all fires, but because they occur in remote locations and often in clusters, they represent 81 per cent of total area burned.
The regions most at risk are British Columbia, and the Boreal forest zones of Ontario, Quebec, the Prairie Provinces, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Forest fires usually occur from May to September and can cause extensive damage and put lives in danger.
What you should do:
Before
The best way to protect yourself and your family in case of a forest fire is to follow these three steps:
- Know your risks: Find out if you live in an area where forest fires could potentially happen.
- Make a plan: Work with your family to make a plan so that when a forest fire happens, you are ready.
- Get a kit: You can buy a preparedness kit from the Red Cross, or make your own.
- Learn fire safety techniques and teach them to your family regularly.
- Make sure everyone is familiar with the technique “STOP, DROP, AND ROLL” in case clothing catches on fire.
- Practice fire drills twice a year and make sure you have an escape plan.
- Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.
- Test them every month and replace the batteries at daylight savings time (March and November).
- Keep a fire extinguisher in an accessible location.
During
- Call 9-1-1
- Close all windows and doors in your house.
- Cover vents, windows, and other openings of the house with duct tape and/or precut pieces of plywood.
- Park your car, positioned forward out of the driveway. Keep your car windows closed and have your valuables already packed in your car.
- Turn off propane or natural gas.
- Turn on the lights in the house, porch, garage and yard. Inside the house, move materials that light easily on fire such as curtains and furniture away from the windows.
- Stay tuned to your local radio station for up-to-date information on the fire and possible road closures.
- Check on vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours (the elderly, ill, disabled) who may require special assistance.
After
- For more information on what to do after a fire, please download our Guide to Fire Recovery.
This is currently on red cross website can check out click here
to BC Govt website Prepared B.C. got resources for people with disabilities in emergency like fires in bc
