Preventing Brush Fires

Safety Information

What to do when fire threatens:

Meet with your family to decide where to go if wildfire threatens

Have an evacuation plan prepared and make sure everyone knows the plan

Choose an out-of-county or out-of-state contact for everyone to call to check in

Have all your evacuation needs together (papers, medications, cash)

Plan for your pets!

Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes and a handkerchief to protect your face

Take your Disaster Supplies Kit

Lock your home

Tell someone when you have left and where you are going

Follow directions of emergency personnel and evacuate immediately if requested

If time allows:

Close all windows and doors
Close heavy drapes, Venetian blinds, or hurricane shutters
Remove any lightweight curtains
Move flammable furniture away from windows and doors
Back the car into the garage
Disconnect the automatic garage door opener
Turn off fuel supplies at the source
Connect a garden hose with a nozzle to an outside tap
Place lawn sprinkler on the roof and wet the roof and shrubs within 15 feet of the home

It is more important than ever to create a landscape around your home that is less vulnerable to wildfire.

This is most important to those homes located in an area surrounded by dense vegetation or in outlying areas east of I-75.

Estero Fire Rescue wants to help you reduce the risk of wildfire damage to your home with a few tips that you can do in a single weekend!

Get Some Space! ~ Have at least 30 ft. of space surrounding your home that is free of flammable materials

Prune shrubs and cut back tree branches, especially within 15 ft. of your chimney

Remove all dead plant materials from around your home including dead leaves, stacked firewood and dry grass

Plant fire-resistant vegetation that is healthy and green throughout the year

Prune all trees six to ten feet from the ground

Keep your roof and gutters free of leaves and pine straw

Keep your lawn mowed regularly and dispose of cuttings and debris promptly

Make sure your driveway is at least 14 ft. wide to accommodate firefighting apparatus

More Information

For more information on how to make your home safe from brush fire, contact Estero Fire Rescue or visit these helpful websites: