In the past few weeks, it feels like a new fire pops up out of nowhere, or one rapidly spreads close by. For the residents of Southern California, this isn’t anything new. This fire season already sees around 1 million acres burned according to Cal Fire. So how do we as residents of Socal deal with these fires in the heat of the fire season?

It felt like just yesterday that we had the Canyon Fires, both 1 and 2 bringing lots of chaos to us Anaheim Hills residents. So naturally let’s talk about prepping for the worst. No matter where in the area you live you should always have an evacuation plan in place. Know where to go, how to find your family, and have a set meeting place. All of these will avoid panic and confusion during a time when communication is cut off between others. Next should be what to bring with you if needed to evacuate. Even though you’re somewhat deep into a neighborhood if it connects to wildlife your house could still be at risk. So what do I bring with me when I hear I need to evacuate? You need to bring all the essential items. Water, canned foods, chargers, spare clothes, and a first aid kit.

Let’s say the fire is nearby but not threatening enough to warrant an evacuation. Recently we just had the Airport Fire, which has been burning the nearby Saddleback Mountains. Even with a fire that far it’s still important to think about yourself in that moment. Fire smoke can travel far creating bad air quality for those in and around it. Spend as little time outside as possible and if the air quality is really bad wear a mask outside to not breathe in the bad air. Pets and such should remain inside from the smoke as it is as damaging to them as it is to us. You should always keep up with a fire’s position and the weather throughout the fire’s lifespan. Knowing which way the wind is blowing and where the fire is at lets you know if it’s on track to spread over towards your area. Fire crews also update the containment of the fire and drop evacuations if one side is safe to return. For example, Rancho Santa Margarita had evacuation orders lifted meaning the west side of the fire has slowed rapidly but the easter side is still blazing. Knowing this information can keep you and your family safe and one step ahead of the fire.