Sooooo… Southern California is on fire! If you live in the area, here are some helpful do’s and dont’s:

Always heed evacuation warnings. Always. Even if you think you are safe. Evacuate anyway. At least go for an impromptu visit to relatives outside of the evac zone. Do not underestimate the speed of fire.

Have an evacuation plan. Talk with your loved ones about where you plan to go if you’re asked to evacuate. Discuss who to call or where to go if you get separated, or someone’s phone dies. Relegate tasks among loved ones so that the responsibility is dispersed evenly. Practice your evacuation routine. Keep lists of the most important things to all of you so you know exactly what to grab. Don’t forget to include pets in this plan! 

If you are given a mandatory evacuation order: 

1) Put only the essentials in your car. Do not try to pack everything. You can’t. Don’t bother. Time is of the essence. 

2) Have water bottles and provisions ready to go in your car, for you and for pets. You’ll likely go to a designated shelter or family’s house, but you never know. Stay prepared.

3) DO NOT FORGET CHARGERS FOR YOUR ELECTRONICS. This is important! Bring your phone or computer, but also make sure you’ll be able to keep it charged and stay in contact. They usually have charging stations at shelters for this very reason.

After a fire:

1) DO NOT WASH ASH OFF YOUR CAR WITH WATER. The ash will solidify and become impossible to get off. You will likely peel off your paint trying to scrape it off. Blowing it off is a generally good method for removing ash.

2) If the ash in the air is really bad and you don’t have access to face masks, place a wet piece of cloth (t-shirt, bandana, scarf, etc) over your face. The wet material will catch some of the ash in the air before it gets in your mouth and lungs.

3) If you have serious trouble breathing, GET TO A HOSPITAL. You may have inhaled too much smoke, and it could cause damage to your insides. 

Above all: stay calm, stay safe, stay smart. 

(If you have more fire safety advice, please feel free to add on!)