I keep hearing more and more bad news about wildfires and how they are causing damages throughout the country. Only this summer, 7 million acres across the US have been affected by it, establishing a new record.

The situation is getting a bit out of hand, with both homeowners and firemen losing their lives because of this. This kind of natural disaster cannot be prevented by a single person, but entire communities will have to mobilize to fight them.

Apparently we should expect an increase in the number of wildfires. Soon enough, we will face a firemen crisis. This is where we, the citizens, have to learn how to cope with these situations ourselves.

1. Prepare Survival Kits

Make 72-hour survival kits for all members of your family and keep them in your home, where it’s easy to access them. A survival kit should have basic hygiene items, essential meds, water, food, a change of clothes, a lightning source and batteries for it. If you have any, include a weapon in your kit, but keep it far away from the kids.

2. Evaluate the Fire-Hazardous Items at Your House

Once you do it, replace the essential ones with safer ones. Keep the fire-hazardous items away from your house. Before that, inform yourself on your local government website what are the items that will prevent and the items that will cause the fire.

Right now the non-combustible roof materials are highly promoted. However, if you can’t afford that, just use fire-retardant chemicals. Keep in mind that they will only stall the fire, but it won’t stop it.

A simple thing you can do in your house to decrease the likelihood of fire damages is to clean the chimneys and gutters 2 times per year.

3. Use Fire-Resistant Materials

You have several options here and you can choose the ones that suits you bet. From fire resistant fence to planting hardwood trees, there is always something. Although they won’t stop the fire, they will get you enough time to call the firemen and get out. Sometimes, even seconds can make the difference between living and dying.

4. Install Fire Alarms in Your Home

If you live in an area that is prone to wildfire, invest in fire alarms. They can be quite expensive, but they are worth it. Otherwise, fire might catch you sleeping and when you wake up, it will be too late to save yourself.

5. Invest in Fire Extinguishers

Buy a fire extinguisher for every room. They can be expensive, but if you start early, you will be able to take your time and you won’t feel the empty pockets that bad. Make sure you and your family know how to use them and don’t abuse them.

Prevention and information are the key to survival; expect everything to happen and be prepared for it!