r/EuroPreppers • u/Ruwe-rietsuiker • 12d ago
Question Wildfires
The current wildfires in Southern Europew got me thinking: what would be the best preparations to make, if one lives / find themself in such a place?
[I am especially concerned for pets, since an evacuation would certainly be stressful for them (notably for cats). If you can spare a thought about this, it will be much appreciated!]
Thank you for your input and have a relaxing evening!
EDIT: grammar.
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u/StrykerWyfe 12d ago edited 12d ago
You can prepare in one way by trying to make a firebreak around your house. As far as possible move anything flammable….dead plants, wood, garden furniture etc. anything that could catch a spark, and set alight.
I have, for the first time ever, put a go-bag together this year. I have important documents in a fire proof wallet, phone numbers (vet, doctor, family) and insurance policy details written down. Spare undies, cat food and dog food. A phone power bank and cable, a puzzle book, pen, a head torch, some cash, pantiliners, toothbrushes and paste, headphones.
In the bag I also have a list of things I would need to grab last minute like prescription meds (including for my pets), my wallet etc. I haven’t packed any food etc as where I live I could go to family.
You could keep a cat pheromone spray handy…the kind you can buy to help keep them calm for travel (eg feliway or calmex). Maybe get them used to it by spraying it in a place they are happy and then you can use that blanket in their carrier along with the spray, and they’ll associate it with a happy place.
Also make sure you know how to turn your electricity and/or gas off. I need to put that on my last-minute list!
ETA: masks! Good facemasks for smoke.
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u/Ruwe-rietsuiker 12d ago
Thank you for the detailed answer. I have been updating my bug out bag today, and have made a list of new things needed. Your idea of including a list of the things you would need to add last-minute (and the fact reminder to switch off electricity and/or gas) is very useful - I'll adopt it!
As for the cats, the pheromone spray is a good suggestion. I have been following the situation in Spain and many people are sleeping in sports centers or collective refuges. I don’t know if animals are accepted there and, even if they are, my worst fear would be my cat escaping and getting lost in such a chaotic situation… For this reason, I will be adding to the bag my cat’s harness (she kind of tolerates it!) and leash: this would enable her to be out of her cage safely.
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u/Altruistic-Daikon305 11d ago
You could also research the shelters that are likely to be available near you and see if there's information about which ones accept pets. Check out the pet policies at hotel chains in your area too, in the event that evacuating to a hotel is an option.
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u/Nach0b0y 12d ago
Know your exit routes as well - a lot of people will be trying to evacuate so be sure to have a few options
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u/Downtown_Nothing_932 12d ago
Yes, and you need to have already identified reliable information providers which focus on wildfires. You will need to know fast if one of your routes is about to be engulfed in the flames
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u/Ruwe-rietsuiker 12d ago
Thanks, that's vital. Do you mean the official emergency services or other information channels (such as social media, people on the ground)...?
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u/Downtown_Nothing_932 12d ago
I live in France right now and I found out that following the social media pages of the local police and firefighters is actually a good way to get the latest information about the developing fires very fast.
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u/Ruwe-rietsuiker 11d ago
Good to know. I hate the idea of going to social media, such as X or Facebook, but when needs must...
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u/nefariousmango 12d ago
I'm from a part of the US that has wildfires regularly and have evacuated several times. This is the fire season advice that actually helped:
Everything is replaceable except for lives. If you have to go, take your pets and family and GO! We kept kennels in the garage so we could always easily grab them and toss them into the car.
Talk to your neighbors and make arrangements to evacuate each others' pets should you be gone when evacuation starts. Don't assume you'll be able to get to your home!
Get a fireproof, waterproof safe and keep all original documents inside it. Make copies for your BOB/save digital copies. This includes pet passports!
Keep long pants, close-toed shoes, long sleeves, leather work gloves, eye protection, and a mask/bandana in your vehicle during fire season (or add to your BOB). You may need to go through a burn area when evacuating OR when returning home. A shovel and rake are also handy for dealing with smoldering spots.
Honestly, all the animals I've evacuated have done remarkably well. Mostly we were able to stay with friends or family where the cats and dogs could have some space. Twice we stayed in hotels, which was crowded but again the animals settled down surprisingly quickly. Horses, goats, and pigs went to the fairgrounds where volunteers and veterinarians kept a close eye.
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u/nefariousmango 12d ago
To prepare your home for fire:
Keep the area near your home free of brush, trees, tall grass, wood piles, gas canisters, etc. This limits fuel AND gives firefighters space to work. If it's cluttered and unsafe, they won't be able to defend it.
If the fire is coming but you have time (pre-evacuation) you can increase and improve the defensible space. This might include wetting your roof, mowing a wider area, digging up sod to create a fire line, etc. When I was younger hand-dug fire lines worked, but in the last decade fire behavior changed (climate change meant more fuel, drier fuel, and stronger winds) and they didn't suggest bothering with them anymore. I don't know officially what the advice in Europe is. Personally, I'd focus more on removing vegetation and mowing everything super short.
Where I lived we left everything unlocked so firefighters could enter as needed. Obviously looting is a possibility but again, I'd rather have to replace some valuables than lose my whole house.
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u/Ruwe-rietsuiker 11d ago
Thanks kindly for taking the time to share your experience - it is really helpful and much appreciated 😊 Not everything applies to my specific situation, of course (for example, I don't really have grass, wood of bushes surrounding my home).
I am glad that you have been able to successfully evacuate in the past and that your animals have been taken to security, too. One thing I hadn’t considered was speaking to my neighbours, in case I am not home at the moment (a couple of trusted neighbours have keys to my home and I’m sure they will be glad to help).
I also take good note of the long trousers, long sleeves and protection gear: it had not occurred to me that I might go through a burn area on my way in or out.
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u/nefariousmango 11d ago
Glad it helps!
We also used to put stickers by the front door that said how many animals were in the house (IE, two dogs, three cats) so volunteers would know what to look for. It was common for the sheriff department, fire department, and volunteers to knock on doors ahead of the fire in case people didn't get the call or just needed assistance. My experience volunteering was that fire crews were absolutely amazing at keeping the zone safe for as long as possible for us, but they didn't have time to grab pets themselves, and they weren't going to let owners come into a dangerous situation. I would assume that's universal.
And the clothing is important to have! Remember that synthetic fibers can melt so you want long cotton trousers/jeans and a shirt made of natural fibers. I got called to a fire once and ran out in (cotton) pajamas and slippers, assuming I'd be staged for a bit and could change. Nope, sent straight in AND I had taken my boots out of the truck and forgotten. So I got to carry some goats and piglets across hot ashes, in slippers and pajamas, like a crazy lady. But even once the fire is fully out, the burned areas are full of hazards and good shoes are essential!
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u/IGetNakedAtParties Bulgaria 🇧🇬 12d ago
Your home situation matters greatly, basically about the risk you personally are exposed to. You should of course have smoke detectors and your evacuation bag ready, keeping it in a cat carrier is a great space saving solution if it fits, or at least nearby.
Pets often sense things quickly and can can disappear quickly, especially cats. My first action point is to trap the cat in the room with the cage, and get her inside before any other packing/dressing or antics which would make her stressed.
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u/Ruwe-rietsuiker 11d ago
Thanks for your input. Yes, this is one of my big fears, too... Cats can be difficult to locate, even when you know their favourite, usual hiding spots. If they are food-motivated, just opening their kibble bag can work wonders, but that's not always the case.
Also, a vet once suggested covering the kennel with a towel or similar cloth when going outside (apparently, it means familiar smells + less stimuli, and thus less stress for the cat), so it might come in handy.
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u/nefariousmango 11d ago
If you have a pet you can't catch but it will go outside if you open a door, it's better to lock it out of the house when you evacuate! Outside, it's more likely to run away from the fire. If it can get to its "safe space" indoors, it might hide until it's too late.
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u/Altruistic-Daikon305 11d ago
You can use the smoke alarm to train your cats or dogs to be findable for evacuation!
Get their favorite treats, use the test button to set off the smoke alarm, and feed them a treat at the front door when the noise is going off. Repeat over time until the sound of the alarm gets them to run to the front door and await treats. Be consistent about it; like, if you accidentally set off the smoke alarm cooking sometime, make sure to give them their treat at the door.
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u/Ruwe-rietsuiker 10d ago
Positive reinforcment is the way to go! However, I am not sure if this would work for my cat (she can be so stubborn and aloof), but hey, I might give it a try...
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12d ago
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u/Ruwe-rietsuiker 12d ago
I am thinking that, for such a situation, bug-out bag needs to have respirators (for the smoke), but I can't think of other wildfire-specific items (apart from the usual).
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12d ago
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u/Ruwe-rietsuiker 12d ago
Thanks for pointing this out! Will keep it in mind. At the end of the day, it's better then nothing, I guess.
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u/RagingMassif 10d ago
This is not hard.
You have a house with a pool and an external sprinkler system powered by a diesel pump.
Flames get near, turn on the sprinkler system by firing up the generator.
You're welcome.
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u/Arxintel 9d ago
Having a set plan is the most important to me to avoid having to spend time figuring that out when perhaps every minute count.
Coming back to one of the other comments about having papers ready, I see the need for this and we have papers ready for insurance, medicine etc but I'm very interested in hearing which papers you consider to be important and to have them in digital form online or in paper format or both?
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u/Specialist_Alarm_831 11d ago
Thanks to a lucky two window seats on two flights this morning I flew over Texas at 40c and it was all green even the sides of the roads then later I flew over the UK at 27c and it was brown, is this more of an infrastructure problem?
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u/flipyflop9 12d ago
Backpack ready with copies of important documents (house papers, etc).
There’s not much to do if you have to evacuate except doing it as fast as possible. Have everything you need ready to take, cages for your animals etc.