Protecting Lives and Property During Fire Season

The recent large wildfires in Northern Arizona, the Tunnel and Crooks fires, have everyone thinking, “Am I ready for an emergency evacuation?” Weather patterns, drought and the fact that we are surrounded by forest makes all of us vulnerable to fire danger.

The best plan to protect yourself and your family is to have one. A system called Ready, Set, Go! by the Arizona Emergency Information Network was used to inform people who had property in the vicinity of both the recent wildfires. There are several ways to keep informed. Through television, radio and social media, people were consistently alerted to what the status of the fire was and what level of response time they were under.

READY: Prepare Now: Get your property ready for wildfire with defensible space by clearing any debris that could easily catch fire. The standard is a 30- to 100-foot space around your home, cleared of pine needles and any other debris. Firefighters will protect homes that they can easily defend while staying safe. Ready can also mean organizing personal items.

SET: Be Alert: This step is preparing your family and home to evacuate. Set a plan on what you need to bring with you – clothing, papers, pictures, medications and arrangements for any pets. Also, begin to make plans on where you might be staying, whether with family, friends or in a hotel.

GO: Evacuate: You should leave your residence immediately when this level is advised. If you stay, emergency personnel may not be able to assist you further.

It’s also smart to have copies or keep certain documents offsite, such as passports, copies of insurance documents and photos, to name a few. Take the time to take photos around your house too – even better, a video. That way, if you do need to file an insurance claim, you have great documentation of your belongings.

And, of course, we recommend you check your smoke alarms and fire extinguishers annually.

Fire season is here. Plan now. Be prepared. Stay safe. QCBN

By Jon and Jamie Aten

Jon and Jamie Aten are the owners of All West Fire & Security. All West Fire & Security, a family-owned business, has been keeping Arizonans safe in Prescott for nearly 30 years. They’ve designed and installed thousands of fire protection and security systems for industrial, commercial, residential and special hazard clients. They work closely with architects and contractors to ensure your new construction or remodeling project meets all safety code requirements. All West Fire & Security are experts in smart home automation, state-of-the-art fire suppression systems, inspections, sprinklers, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, monitoring, intrusion alarms, security cameras, badge access systems, backflow certifications and more.