If you live in an area that is susceptible to wildfire, you may already know how dangerous they are and how quickly they can get out of hand. Even the smallest of fires can turn into thousands of burned acres, lost homes and lost lives. When a wild land fire strikes in your area, it is important to stay well informed of its exact location, how far it has been contained (control regained) and weather conditions surrounding the area of the fire. A slight wind can change the entire course of the wildfire and send it surging your way.
Some people are diehards when it comes to leaving their home. They will stay in their home to try and defend it against fire even when warned by fire officials that they need to leave in order to save their lives. Although many of those people do come out of the incident safe and alive, they put themselves in the position of not being able to find an escape route. Any natural disaster is a frightening experience and though we think we are experts at what is best for us, the truth is, we should still listen to what the experts have to say.
Never stay in your home or try to keep the fire from overtaking your home at the risk of your own life. If officials have told you to evacuate, they have good reason to believe that the fire could turn deadly in that area. Remember that they can’t read what will happen with wind, rain and other weather issues that could turn the storm on a dime. However, they do know that there are special risks involved in trying to escape a wild land fire that has surrounded you without any escape. Several wild land firefighters found out exactly how deadly it could be when the Storm King Mountain fire took the lives of 14 people who failed to outrun the fire they were attempting to fight. In July of 1994, these 14 people died, yet they were experts in their field of work. There were errors made on that day, but the fact is, if a wild fire turns on you, it isn’t likely you will be able to get away from it when it is hell bent in your path.
If there is even the slightest clue that you and your family could be in danger, if the fire is close to your home, if you have been warned by firefighters to evacuate your home, that is the time to evacuate and search for safer ground. It is better to lose you home than to lose your life unsuccessfully trying to save your home. Your home won’t be much good to you if it turns out to be a successful fight to save your home yet you perish. If the trained experts often find themselves surrounded by fire that they can’t find a way out of, how is it that someone who isn’t trained in fire habits going to survive if the fire comes rushing towards them? Protect yourself early on. It keeps you, your family and those who are trying to fight the fire much safer.
