(Part I of a short series)

In areas affected by seasonal wildfires Covid-19 may cause even greater problems this year. In some regions Covid-19 has meant reduction or cessation of controlled burns to help mitigate fires¹. Many rehabilitators are functioning with less volunteers, interns, and paid staff. This makes the need for personal preparation even more important. Use the following tips to help get yourself and/or your center ready for fire season.

Make or Review your Plan

• Think through the steps to safely evacuate yourself, other people, and the wildlife in your care. If you are a home rehabber, don’t forget to include your pets/livestock.
• Prioritize! Who/what needs to be evacuated first? What can you afford to leave behind?
• Print out emergency protocols and review them with anyone that will be helping you in an emergency (partner, volunteers, etc.). Keep them in a binder or folder that is easily accessible.
• Have emergency supplies in labeled containers that can easily be grabbed as you evacuate.This includes rehab supplies and supplies you and your family will need to survive.

Organize Emergency Information

• Arrange to get emergency fire/weather alerts via phone or email.
• If you use a phone tree or phone alert system for employees or volunteers make sure all numbers are up to date and people are willing/able to assist in an emergency.
•  Have multiple copies of licenses and permits in a fire safe, your evacuation kit, and stored digitally in the cloud.
• If you lose your home or facility have a plan to transfer your patients to others.
  • Prepare press releases for  local media to redirect rescuers to operational facilities.

Do a Facility Check

• Clear brush and debris from around your facility, cut branches or limbs that overhang the roof or outdoor enclosures, ensure fire lines are clear.
• Check smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
  • Members can watch a webinar on fire extinguishers on the IWRC website.
• Make a list of materials or equipment (i.e O2 tanks) that could be hazardous in a fire. Mark these devices on posted fire escape maps. 
• Ensure all equipment needed for evacuation (i.e. radios, animal carriers) is in working order.
• Be prepared to shelter in place if evacuation is not required.

Know the Terrain

• Know where fires are likely to come from.
• Plan multiple evacuation routes.
• Maintain up to date downloaded or paper maps; don’t rely on GPS/phones in an emergency.

Have a drill

• Go through the motions of evacuation, simply walking through your plan will help.
• Use every day experiences to prepare- know how long it takes to hook up a trailer, put together animal carriers, or catch up animals. 
• Adapt and improve your plan as you go (i.e. it takes too long to put carriers together? Use pillow cases instead!).

Works Cited

1. Phillips C. Covid-19 collision with 2020 fire season will ignite multiple threats. Union of Concerned Scientists, May 11, 2020, [accessed July 6, 2020] https://blog.ucsusa.org/carly-phillips/covid-19-collision-with-2020-fire-season-will-ignite-multiple-threats