When Brush Fires Threaten Your Home
In most parts of the country, spring and fall is the season of highest fire danger. In Plainville however, this is not the case. Our largest brush fires occur in September and October when the winds can blow 30+ miles per hour. Nearly all of our major brush fires have occurred during these two months.

For those of you who live in the midst of our brush areas, planning and preparations are essential in order to maximize your safety when an unstoppable fire passes over your house. The first step is to create a "defensible space" around your home. All hazardous brush should be removed within 100 feet of all structures. Good brush clearance will provide a working area for firefighters to operate and allow a fast- moving fire to burn around your property with a minimal chance of igniting your house.

The next thing to consider is what to actually do if a fire is moving toward your home. The first consideration is your safety. Should you stay at home or leave? If you have any doubts at all, evacuate immediately. If time allows, and you have not been ordered to evacuate, the following actions are recommended:

• 1) Place valuable documents (which should be preplanned and ready to go) in your car, along with medications, pets and other essentials needed for evacuation.
• 2) Park all vehicles heading out, with the windows rolled up and the keys in the ignition. They should be parked where they will not obstruct fire apparatus. Convertibles or cars with padded tops should go inside the garage.
• 3) Close all doors and windows, include the garage. Close all drapes, curtains and blinds. Lightweight curtains should be removed.
• 4) Turn on all lights inside and out to assist firefighters in locating your home.
• 5) Place a ladder, preferably a noncombustible one, against the side of your house to the roof.
• 6) Place combustible garden furniture and pads in the garage or house. Do not leave any combustible items near any structures.
• 7) Connect garden hoses to hose bibs and leave them in the off position. Lay the hose out straight to remove kinks. Rubber or neoprene hoses are best. Some plastic hoses fail when exposed to very little heat. Hoses should be long enough to reach completely around your house. Also, keep a shovel handy.

EVACUATION: If evacuation is ordered, or if you feel your safety is jeopardized, keep the family together, take your valuable papers and drive to a safe area. Most important of all: KEEP CALM! Excited people cause panic.

IF YOU STAY: If you have not been ordered to evacuate and chose to stay, or if you are trapped at home prior to evacuating, take the following steps:

• 1) Keep all family members together inside the house. This is the safest place to be when the fire hits. Don't forget to close all doors and windows.
• 2) Stay inside while the fire passes directly over and around your house. This will happen in a matter of minutes during high winds.
• 3) After the fire has passed, look outside and survey the area. If you can safely leave, do so. Follow the instructions of firefighters.

PROTECTING YOUR OWN HOUSE: If you plan to protect your own house and are physically able to do so (and have not been ordered to evacuate) go outside after the fire has passed and use your ladder and garden hose to extinguish any spot fires on your roof and around the exterior of your house. There is little value in wetting down brush, trees and fire-resistant roofs ahead of a fire. If you have an older wood roof, wet it down with your garden hose until the fire is within 600', then get down from the roof and go inside. You can also fill large trash cans with water and place them around your house in case your water pressure diminishes. Keep small rugs handy to dip in the water and extinguish spot fires. Use shovels to "spray" dirt over small spot fires. Above all use good judgement and stay safe.