Prepare Your Home for Wildfire

Wildfire Mitigation

A good wildfire mitigation strategy includes long-term and emergency planning.

Long-term Planning

Wildfire risk mitigation strategies include both ongoing maintenance and major renovations. Some of these updates and upgrades are simple DIY tasks, while others may require professional assistance.

TIP: You don’t have to tackle your wildfire damage prevention action list all at once. Prioritize upgrades based on need and budget.

Home Protection Products

Gear up with essential equipment and supplies so you can make home improvements to reduce wildfire risk to your property.

TIP: Prioritize wildfire mitigation to your home itself, then move on to the area within 10 metres of the home. This will have the greatest impact on risk mitigation.

Emergency Preparedness

Here’s What to Do if There’s a Wildfire Evacuation Alert or Order

You may only have hours to prepare following a wildfire warning. Once an evacuation order is issued, you must leave quickly. Plan ahead so you can make the most of your time.

Evacuation Alert Action List

Monitor the situation on the radio or internet, and be prepared to evacuate
Ensure your vehicle is fuelled and parked facing away from the house for a quick departure
Move combustibles like lawn furniture or a propane barbecue away from your home
Remove flammable window coverings, and store them away from windows
Move furniture away from windows and to the centre of each room
Help firefighters by positioning a ladder at the corner of your roof and connecting garden hoses to the outside water supply
Keep cell phones fully charged, and have backup chargers on hand
Review your emergency plans and local evacuation routes
Consider early evacuation if you have farm animals that need relocating

Evacuation Order Action List

Shut all doors, shutters and windows, but leave them unlocked
Leave exterior lights on to make your home visible to firefighters
Grab your Emergency Kits, and evacuate to the locally appointed safety area or shelter, using wildfire evacuation routes
Keep KN95 respirators readily accessible as you travel

TIP: Don’t leave water sprinklers or water running on your property, as this can negatively impact water pressure for crucial firefighting equipment.

Emergency Kit Essentials

Here’s What You’ll Need For Up to 3 Days Away from Home

Create Your Emergency Kit

If you need to evacuate, you may not have time to gather essential items. Plan ahead and keep everything together in a large bin, backpack or hockey bag, so you can quickly load your vehicle and head out. Here are some of the essential things you can add to your kit.

TIP: Keep copies of important documents (i.e. ID, home insurance, veterinary records), along with a spare credit card and/or cash, in a waterproof case stashed inside one of your emergency kits.

Wildfire Mitigation

A good wildfire mitigation strategy includes long-term and emergency planning.

Long-term Planning

Wildfire risk mitigation strategies include both ongoing maintenance and major renovations. Some of these updates and upgrades are simple DIY tasks, while others may require professional assistance.

TIP: You don’t have to tackle your wildfire damage prevention action list all at once. Prioritize upgrades based on need and budget.

Home Protection Products

Gear up with essential equipment and supplies so you can make home improvements to reduce wildfire risk to your property.

TIP: Prioritize wildfire mitigation to your home itself, then move on to the area within 10 metres of the home. This will have the greatest impact on risk mitigation.

Emergency Preparedness

Here’s What to Do if There’s a Wildfire Evacuation Alert or Order

You may only have hours to prepare following a wildfire warning. Once an evacuation order is issued, you must leave quickly. Plan ahead so you can make the most of your time.

Evacuation Alert Action List

Monitor the situation on the radio or internet, and be prepared to evacuate
Ensure your vehicle is fuelled and parked facing away from the house for a quick departure
Move combustibles like lawn furniture or a propane barbecue away from your home
Remove flammable window coverings, and store them away from windows
Move furniture away from windows and to the centre of each room
Help firefighters by positioning a ladder at the corner of your roof and connecting garden hoses to the outside water supply
Keep cell phones fully charged, and have backup chargers on hand
Review your emergency plans and local evacuation routes
Consider early evacuation if you have farm animals that need relocating

Evacuation Order Action List

Shut all doors, shutters and windows, but leave them unlocked
Leave exterior lights on to make your home visible to firefighters
Grab your Emergency Kits, and evacuate to the locally appointed safety area or shelter, using wildfire evacuation routes
Keep KN95 respirators readily accessible as you travel

TIP: Don’t leave water sprinklers or water running on your property, as this can negatively impact water pressure for crucial firefighting equipment.

Emergency Kit Essentials

Here’s What You’ll Need For Up to 3 Days Away from Home

Create Your Emergency Kit

If you need to evacuate, you may not have time to gather essential items. Plan ahead and keep everything together in a large bin, backpack or hockey bag, so you can quickly load your vehicle and head out. Here are some of the essential things you can add to your kit.

TIP: Keep copies of important documents (i.e. ID, home insurance, veterinary records), along with a spare credit card and/or cash, in a waterproof case stashed inside one of your emergency kits.

Wildfire Cleanup

Before attempting any cleanup, be sure local fire officials have given the all-clear to re-enter your home. Here’s how to deal with the aftermath of a wildfire, from assessment and damage control to cleaning and repairs.

Returning Home After a Wildfire

Here’s How to Assess & Repair Wildfire Damage

Be cautious when returning home after a wildfire. Be aware that hot spots can flare up and that the structural integrity of your home may be damaged from fire and/or water. Ash, smoke and mould can impact air quality; ash pits can be a hazard. Here’s what to do once it’s safe to enter your home.

Check off these top priority action items before starting your cleanup process:

Check local utility providers for the status of local water, gas, electric and sewer service, and confirm when service will be restored to your home
Conduct a visual inspection for unstable trees and outbuildings that need to be removed or repaired
If you see structural damage, such as foundation cracks or damaged support beams to your home, contact a structural engineer or contractor for advice before entering
Enter with caution: Don’t force doors — if they feel stuck, they may be supporting weight
Open windows and doors to promote ventilation and slow the growth of mould or mildew if the home was flooded with water
For insurance purposes, list and photograph all damaged or lost items, and take photos of fire, smoke and water damage to your home

TIP: Contact your home insurance agent for immediate advice. They may be able to provide assistance with repairs and living expenses.

Safe Cleanup & Repairs

Before beginning your cleanup, make sure you have personal protective gear to stay safe. This includes a KN95 respirator or N95 dust particulate mask with nose clip, coveralls, eye protection, rubber and leather gloves, and safety boots.

Here’s a checklist of essential cleaning to-dos once your home is safe to enter:

Take a room-by-room approach to cleaning, sealing off each room with plastic sheeting to contain ash and soot. Mist with water to reduce airborne ash.
Throw away any medicine or food (including canned and bottled items) that may have come into contact with smoke, heat, soot or water.
Safely discard household cleaners, paints and other chemicals, following local guidelines on household waste.
Throw out mattresses and pillows; if using a mattress temporarily, dry it in sunlight then cover it in plastic sheeting until it can be replaced.
Wet wipe room surfaces (flooring, walls, ceiling) to remove ash, then vacuum again once dry, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
Scrub wooden furniture and wood surfaces, such as cupboards, doors and stairs, with a stiff brush and mild wood cleaner.
Discard badly damaged area rugs, carpet, window coverings and furniture; steam clean salvageable items.
Steam clean upholstered furniture or sponge it with a mild detergent and water before rinsing. Dry thoroughly in fresh air.
Air out machine-washable clothing and fabrics outdoors for at least 24 hours, then spray with a 50-50 mix of white vinegar and water. Launder with 1 cup each of vinegar and baking soda, then repeat with detergent. Repeat as needed to remove smoke odour.
Wash kitchenware, such as pots, pans, dishes and flatware, with regular detergent. Rinse and polish, if needed.
Place saucers of white vinegar or vanilla around the house to absorb odour.
Hire professionals to assess structural, systems and appliance damage, to tackle major renovations, and to clean and test HVAC systems.

Home Cleanup Products

Make your fire-, smoke- and water-damaged house a home again with these essential cleaning supplies, tools and equipment.

TIP: Break cleaning and repair tasks into small steps, so that progress is measurable each day. Recovering after a disaster is stressful and slow-moving, so remember to recognize your daily progress.

Here’s How to Clean Your Outdoor Space After a Wildfire

Outdoor spaces can be damaged by fire, soot, ash and residue from firefighting materials. Fire restoration contractors must be hired to remediate fully destroyed property, but if property damage is minor, here are 5 outdoor tasks homeowners can DIY.

TIP: Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including a KN95 or N95 respirator, when cleaning up after a wildfire.

Here's How to Prepare Your Home for Wildfires

Wildfire Mitigation

Long-term Planning

Home Protection Products

Emergency Preparedness

Here’s What to Do if There’s a Wildfire Evacuation Alert or Order

Emergency Kit Essentials

Here’s What You’ll Need For Up to 3 Days Away from Home

Create Your Emergency Kit

Wildfire Mitigation

Long-term Planning

Home Protection Products

Emergency Preparedness

Here’s What to Do if There’s a Wildfire Evacuation Alert or Order

Emergency Kit Essentials

Here’s What You’ll Need For Up to 3 Days Away from Home

Create Your Emergency Kit

Wildfire Cleanup

Returning Home After a Wildfire

Here’s How to Assess & Repair Wildfire Damage

Safe Cleanup & Repairs

Home Cleanup Products

Here’s How to Clean Your Outdoor Space After a Wildfire

Essential Products

Lawn & Garden

Fire Extinguishers

Smoke Detectors

Flashlights

Batteries

Air Cleaners, Dehumidifiers & Humidifiers

Work Safety Products

Pails

Wet Dry Vacuums

Floor Cleaners

Cleaning Tools

Industrial & Specialty Cleaners

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