Fire Season – Be Prepared!

Do You Have a Plan?

It is that time of the year when we all need to be reminded about fire safety. Twice now, Robbie and I have been threatened with fires; once from a forest fire and the other a chimney fire. Both times we had to prepare to evacuate our home. And both times we were caught off guard. All of a sudden it was time to flee and we couldn’t begin to think of the things we should grab. Times like this make one realize how important it is to “be ready” and having a “plan” can take some of the guess work out of a panic situation. It is easy to think clearly when danger is not present but when danger lurks and the adrenaline starts flowing it is not so easy to think clearly.

What to Do Now To Be Prepared:

1. First and foremost, TAKE AN INVENTORY OF YOUR BELONGINGS. Walk through your home with a video camera and talk about your belongings. Document your personal property in an annotated list. Take “still” pictures of all belongings as a backup. Whether you lose your personal belongings to a fire or some other unfortunate event, it is important to document what you have before it is too late.
2. Make a LIST OF ITEMS TO TAKE in case you need to evacuate your home in a hurry.

     For starters:

• Insurance Documents (Health, Auto, Home, etc.)
• Copies of Birth Certificates and Social Security Cards
• Title Deeds
• Legal Documents and Tax Records
• Licenses (Marriage, Driver’s etc.)
• Computer (time permitting), backup disks, PDA
• Address Book with emergency contact list
• Cash, Credit Cards, Checks, Savings Books
• Prescriptions (medications, eyes), Glasses, Contacts
• Family Heirlooms, Jewelry, Photos, Videos, Art, Irreplaceable Keepsakes
• Camera, Cell Phone, Chargers, Flashlight, Radio, Extra Batteries
• First Aid Kit

        Personal Items including:

• Extra sets of clothes including underwear, coats, jackets, hats, caps, gloves, scarves, shoes & socks, pajamas
• Personal toiletries (razors, toothbrush & toothpaste, soap & towels, shampoo, deodorant, sanitary items)
• Infant, Elderly or Pet special supplies
• Fresh water

I encourage you to take a few minutes and put some thought into your own “plan”. We are all guilty of reading good intentions and then thinking “I’ll do it later” or “that will never happen to me”. Take a few minutes and document or video tape your belongings and make a quick checklist in case you are ever tested and have to collect your things in a hurry. It could make a big difference. This applies to your second homes or “cabins” too!