How to create a wildfire action plan

Firefighters continue to battle wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Thousands of acres have burned, and over 1,000 homes and buildings have been destroyed. In San Diego, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning through Thursday due to strong Santa Ana winds.

"A period of widespread, strong winds accompanied by very dry air and critically dry fuels will result in dangerous fire weather condition," the warning states. "Any new fire ignition in these areas will likely have very dangerous wildfire spread.”

Wildfires are a fact of life in Southern California, home to hundreds of miles of scrub brush and canyons rimmed with homes and businesses. It takes mere moments for an ember to jump a road or race up or down a hillside, putting structures — and people — at risk.

Preparing for disaster

A wildfire action plan can help your family prepare for an emergency. Each plan will be different, depending on where you live, but the process of talking through what you would do if asked to evacuate is an important step in being ready to go.

A typical evacuation plan includes:

• An agreed-upon emergency meeting location outside the fire or hazard area. All members of the household should know how to get to this location. This is critical in determining who has safely evacuated.

• Several different escape routes from your home and community. Practice these often so everyone in your family is familiar in case of emergency.

• A plan for pets and large animals, such as horses or other livestock.

• A communication plan that designates a point of contact outside the fire area to act as a single source of communication among family members, in case of separation.

Evacuation plans for families with young children should include helping toddlers understand how to quickly respond in case of fire, and how adults can escape with babies, according to Cal Fire's "Ready for Wildfire" website. Seniors and people with disabilities also need special consideration when preparing for a disaster.

Ready, set, go

Determining what you will take in case of emergency evacuation now can save time later and ensure that you bring the most important items with you. Experts suggest keeping supplies in rolling plastic containers in multiple locations, in case you cannot access some parts of your property.

If you decide to or are called upon by first responders to evacuate, don't forget the six Ps:

• People and pets

• Papers, phone numbers and important documents

• Prescriptions, vitamins and eyeglasses

• Photos and irreplaceable memorabilia

• Personal computers, hard drives, disks and memory sticks

• "Plastic" (credit or debit cards) and cash

Cal Fire offers these additional wildfire preparation tips:

• Have fire extinguishers on hand and train your family how to use them (check expiration dates regularly).

• Know where your gas, electric and water main shut-off controls are located and how to safely shut them down in an emergency. Make sure others in your home know this as well.

• Assemble an emergency supply kit for each person in the household, as recommended by the American Red Cross.

• Maintain a list of emergency contact numbers posted near your phone and in your emergency supply kit. Keep an extra kit in your car in case you cannot get to your home.

• Have a portable radio or scanner so you can stay updated on the fire.

• Tell your family or neighbors about your wildfire action plan.

If you live within a fire hazard zone, be ready to go at a moment's notice. Pay attention to mobile phone apps, radio and television for updated information. Make sure you have gas in the car, your emergency kit, a change of clothes for each member of the household, and a pair of tennis shoes in case you need to get out and walk.

Preparing for a disaster isn't difficult, experts say, you just have to do it before it's too late. For more information on preparing your family's evacuation and communication plans, visit Ready San Diego, which includes a wildfire hazard map showing areas at greatest risk, and links to download emergency notification apps for your mobile phone.

This story was updated in January 2025.