Wildfire season readiness: act before the peak
The best time to prepare for a wildfire is before the conditions are severe. This guide brings together the most important preparation steps — defensible space, go-bags, evacuation plans, and alert sign-ups — into one checklist you can work through now.
Preparation checklist
Four areas to cover before fire season peaks
Property
- Clear gutters and roof of leaves and debris
- Remove dead vegetation within 3 m (10 ft) of the house
- Move firewood and propane tanks at least 9 m (30 ft) from the structure
- Close all vents with 1/16 in mesh ember-resistant screening
Evacuation plan
- Identify two escape routes from your neighbourhood
- Agree a family meeting point outside the immediate area
- Register for county emergency alerts
- Know the difference between Evacuation Warning and Evacuation Order
Go-bag
- Government-issued ID and insurance documents
- Medications (minimum 7-day supply)
- Phone charger and battery pack
- Water, food, first-aid kit, cash
Pets and livestock
- Have a plan for transporting all animals
- Keep a recent photo of each pet for identification
- Know your nearest pet-friendly emergency shelter
Defensible space: the most important structural step
Embers travel up to a mile ahead of a wildfire front. The most common way a home ignites during a wildfire is not from direct flame contact, but from embers landing on combustible surfaces — wooden decks, dry leaves in gutters, wood piles near the house. NFPA's Firewise USA programme has documented that homes with cleared defensible space and ember-resistant venting survive at significantly higher rates even when neighbours' homes are lost.
The CAL FIRE two-zone model is the most practical framework: Zone 1 (0–30 ft from the structure) should be essentially non-combustible; Zone 2 (30–100 ft) should have spaced, low-fuel vegetation. On slopes, both zones should extend further — fire travels faster uphill.
Know before you go: evacuation levels
Most US jurisdictions use a three-level evacuation system (Ready / Set / Go or equivalent). A "Set" or "Evacuation Warning" means prepare to leave immediately — not that you have time to wait. Fires can outpace vehicles on a single-lane road with thousands of people trying to leave simultaneously. FEMA's evacuation guidance recommends leaving at the warning stage if you have mobility limitations, pets, or livestock — don't wait for the order.
1 mile
Embers can travel ahead of a wildfire front, landing on roofs and in gutters far from the visible fire line. Source: NFPA Wildfire research.
Where to find current fire conditions
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) publishes current fire activity maps and a monthly potential outlook. For California specifically, CAL FIRE's incidents page shows active fires in real time. The USFA publishes fire statistics and seasonal safety campaigns throughout the year.
For a full household go-bag checklist and room-by-room safety review, use the use cases page. Our wildfire guides cover defensible space zones and go-bag packing in detail.
Sources: NFPA Firewise USA · CAL FIRE · FEMA Ready.gov · NIFC
Wildfire FAQ
Questions about wildfire preparedness
Wildfire season in the western US traditionally peaks from June to October, but fire conditions can occur year-round in California, Arizona and other southern states. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) publishes a monthly National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook, which gives the most current seasonal forecast by region. Climate conditions have extended the high-risk period in recent decades.
Defensible space is the buffer of cleared vegetation around your home that slows or stops a wildfire before it reaches the structure. NFPA's Firewise USA programme and CAL FIRE guidance both recommend a Zone 1 (0–30 ft / 0–9 m) of non-combustible or low-fuel ground cover, and a Zone 2 (30–100 ft / 9–30 m) of reduced and spaced vegetation. Local regulations may require more, especially on slopes.
A go-bag should allow you to leave in 5 minutes and sustain you for 72 hours. Core items include: government-issued ID and insurance documents (or copies), medications (90-day supply if possible), phone charger, water (2 litres per person per day), food, first-aid kit, cash, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. The FEMA Ready.gov kit guide and American Red Cross supplies checklist provide complete lists.
Register for your county or local authority's emergency notification system — search "[your county] emergency alerts" to find the correct sign-up page. In the US, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are delivered automatically to mobile phones in the affected area, but local systems provide earlier and more specific notifications. In the UK, UK Emergency Alerts are available via the GOV.UK alerts page.