SAN LUIS VALLEY — As wildland fires rage in Colorado and throughout the West, the time to prepare for an evacuation is now, and a simple to-go bag is an excellent first step.
Wildfires can explode into deadly infernos in minutes, incinerating everything in their path.
A simple go-bag backed with essentials is a must in an emergency evacuation when you only have seconds to depart.
According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association, wildfires can spread quickly, leaving you needing to leave STAT.
In April 2011, the Rockhouse Fire near Marfa, Texas, raced 21 miles to the town of Fort Davis in 30 minutes. Winds of 65 mph and bone-dry grassland fueled the conflagration.
In 2018, the Spring Creek Fire, which began on the Sangre de Cristo Ranches in Costilla County, raced eastward and consumed 140 structures and 108,045 acres.
The Fire Chiefs Association warns that most people need to be better judges of how far a fire is from them and how quickly it will reach their doorstep. In the case of the Rockhouse Fire, the blaze traveled five miles in only about seven minutes.
In California, the recent Park Fire maelstrom consumed about 5,000 acres per hour and scorched 150,000 acres on the first day.
Think about how quickly a wildfire charging 5,000 acres in an hour can reach you, your family, home, and pets. If lucky, you can grab a go-bag, jump in a vehicle, and get to safety. Be prepared for a fast-moving, high-intensity fire.
Have your car and go-bag ready.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends keeping go-bag supplies to last at least 72 hours and half a tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times. Also, keep one gallon of water per person for three days ready.
Keep an emergency bag in your car with essential items like water, food, first aid equipment, a flashlight, a portable radio, and a portable charger. Excellent chargers that can charge a cell phone five or six times, such as an Anker 325 Power Bank, Power Core 20K, retail for about $45.
Pack clothing, socks, underwear, jackets, sweatshirts, extra shoes, etc. Include toiletry items such as toilet paper, disposable shavers, extra toothbrushes, shampoo and shaving cream, toothpaste. Include additional regular medications, both prescription and over-the-counter meds, such as pain relievers, antacids, laxatives, and anti-diarrhea medications to last several days.
Including moist towelettes, garbage bags, matches in a waterproof container and a manual can opener are also recommended by FEMA. Keeping sleeping bags in your vehicle all year is also a good idea.
Be sure to have go-bags ready for everyone in the household, including pets.
