Wildfire preparedness has become a way of life in California. Long term ‘red flag’ black out zones surrounding fire areas are also a problem, leaving people without services, food or gas for days. In this article I cover a Go Bag packing list for wildfire emergency preparedness.
I interviewed my friend Cory Rantanen who survived the Camp Fire in Paradise CA in a narrow escape, flanked by fire in both directions, and ultimately lost his home and vehicles. We came up with some tips on a Go Bag packing list and some lessons he’s learned as advice to others.
“That day I woke up and smelled smoke, and it got worse from there. It got so bad I couldn’t see the house across the street. On the radio the only news I could get was pre- recorded at 5AM, and it was saying it was a sunny day with no mention of a fire. Then people started speeding up and down the street at rates of speed I’ve never seen before, and ash started falling from the sky. That’s when the adrenaline kicked in.”
“I had no ability to get on fire related websites for current data, it listed all these old fires. I called my girlfriend and was trying to figure out what to grab in a hurry and then lost service. The cell towers were down when they lost power or burned, and were overloaded before that.”
“The power was out by 9am, and the sky was pitch black. I was using a flashlight just to go through the house. I heard propane tanks exploding like thunder getting closer. I was loading my cab over camper onto the F250 (pickup truck) to have a place to stay in case we weren’t coming back soon. Pieces of bark 4”x24” were falling from the sky on fire, and it was the strongest winds I’ve ever felt.”
“I got on the road and could see the glow of wildfire on both sides. I was able to check my phone and saw that I got a text from neighbor before power went out. She said Skyway, the main road out, was on fire- go to Neil. Neil was a two-lane road with no shoulder, and both lanes were redirected to be leaving paradise. We were sitting stuck there for about forty minutes with the fire getting right to us on both sides. After a while people started walking out from the front saying there was no way out and cars were on fire up there. During that time, fire flanked around behind us and we were on an island surrounded by fire. Everyone coordinated to turn traffic around. Most people weren’t panicking and some people took lead, and eventually we all turned around. We got to Skyway, it was on fire, but it was a bigger road and it was moving. I had to drive over obstacles like burning branches.”
“People were abandoning cars everywhere from running out of gas, breaking down, or just burning. You could tell big trucks or bulldozers seemed to clear a path and pushed other dead cars out of the way so we could get through on Skyway. You could see huge scrapes down the sides of the cars pushed out of the way.”
“Once we were out, hotels were booked out for miles, I didn’t know what happened to my home still for another month and couldn’t go back in. There were looters, additional rain damage, and animals to worry about on the property and in my vehicles.”
“I never got an evacuation order. The first official news I herd was sitting stuck on Neil road, and the Mayor coming on AM radio from safe in Chico already telling Paradise to evacuate. If you have any doubt figure out the best way and just go.”
Wildfire Go Bag Purpose
The main idea of the Go Bag is the ability to grab it, and ‘GO’ out the door to your vehicle to evacuate- with no hesitation in your mentality. If it’s not in the bag it didn’t matter anyway- you need to go.
A Wildfire Go Bag should be small enough to be helpful in an immediate evacuation and focused on mobility. Most people survived by getting out in their vehicles away form the Camp Fire in a matter of hours or less to safe areas. One group was trapped on a road and had to abandon their vehicles as they were surrounded by fire. They had to move on foot to a survivable locations and shelter in place as the fires passed. Others had to get into other peoples vehicles, as theirs broke down, ran out of fuel, or burned. A Go Bag should be able to go with you easily through transitions.
Go Bag Packing List
Backpack
For a quick Go Bag I chose the Kifaru Antero. It’s very small but makes good use of limited space. It’s smaller than a standard ‘Jansport’ style backpack, has some suspension capability, is very durable, and comfortable. It’s fast to get on and off and easily fits in my lap in a vehicle if needed. I’m a fan of other manufacturers like the Prometheus Design Werx Shadow pack, and offerings from the Hill People Gear line up. For this case it’s just a backpack, anything decent should do. The Go Bag packing list contents are what is important.
Particle Mask
More people die of smoke inhalation than fire. A particle mask is far from a fire respirator but it is much better than nothing. After the first few years of fire seasons for weeks on end working outdoors I upgraded to a respirator style 3M particle mask. I have the round particle cartridge sets that are light weight and easy to breath through, and a comprehensive plastic housing filter set that also filters organic vapors and gasses. The round filters are p100 and also get ‘nuisance’ amount of organic vapors. They are very easy to breath through and lightweight. The part number for those is 2097. The multigas and vapor with p100 filter cartridge is 3M 60926. The set of plastic cartridges weight several ounces each, make the mask less comfortable and harder to breath through but offer upgraded protection.
Water
While a gallon per person per day is recommended as emergency back up in your vehicle or home, in a go bag a few liters is more appropriate. Water weighs eight pounds per gallon, which makes a small bag heavy fast. I also carry a micro MSR filter that can turn things like water from a toilets storage tank to potable water in an emergency.
Headlamp
For dark days or fire evacuation at night. I have a Petzyl, and a hand held surefire for extra power.
Personal
Medications- Make sure you pack all important medications and medical devices.
Important Records- If you can, pack crucial documents in advance.
Passport
Wallet
Cash- Many stores may not be accepting credit cards in black out zones.
Gloves
Pocket Knife- Pictured is a Benchmade brand folding knife with a Rescue Hook cutter to act as trauma sheers or a seat belt cutter. There is also a glass breaker on one end to shatter and exit a vehicles passenger windows.
Portable Electricity
I carry a Goal Zero Sherpa 50 Watt Battery pack with both USB ports, and a 120V inverter to plug in small devices in my Go Bag. Keeping my phone running has been difficult on multi-day blackouts. Having the extra power has been a big morale boost by having the ability to connect LED lamps off of the power pack to light a dark house or camp stove. It allows me to charge my phone several times on one full Sherpa pack.
I charged the pack during the day in my truck with a power inverter and with the Goal Zero solar panel.
Finally my Petzyl headlamp model has a built in rechargeable battery with a micro USB cable with I was able to recharge off of the Goal Zero also.
Individual First Aid Kit
Compression Bandages, SAM Splints, Medical Tape, Cravats, Tourniquets, Nasal Airway, Sheers, & Gloves. Burn Cream ointment in individual tear packs, antiseptic wipes. I recommend becoming certified in Wilderness First Aid, and First Aid courses at a minimum.
Cotton Clothing and Hiking Boots
Avoid synthetic based clothing that can melt to skin in heat and embers from a wildfire.
FRS, HAM, NOAA Radio
When communication breaks down, getting outside information may be easier through radios than cellular. NOAA weather radio can also be used for disasters. HAM radios are more powerful than FRS or GMRS but typically require licenses to operate.
We Boost
Cell Towers get shut down with the power or burn. The WeBoost cellular signal booster can help you get a signal. I spoke with the web guru at Thunder Ranch, Greg Beck who has some experience with one. He said that the WeBoost has helped him get a bar extra of service in remote locations, and is impressed with it for what it is. It can also hop channels to speed communications. Greg cautioned that what it won’t do is give you better data reception when everyone is overloading the system.
Satellite Communications
InReach or satellite phone voice is expensive, but you may have the ability to communicate with people while cell towers are down via SatComms to people outside the black out zone that can get you information, or relay a help request.
GPS
While Cellular can Break down, my Garmin 60CSX GPS will read location regardless of wireless data so I can always know my location regardless of visibility and Extra Power.
Fire Shelter
Fire shelters are something that’s not practical for most people but worth a mention. It’s a last desperate measure. Someone has to be trained in using it, choose the best location to deploy it, know the right timing to do so, and have a shovel to clear an area around you. The fire is as loud as a train rolling overhead and the winds generated try to rip the shelter off. If the shelter opens and you breathe the hot air, that’s it.
Tips for Wildfire Preparedness
Vehicles– Top off your vehicles gas tank before you park it at home if you’re low so you don’t run out of gas in an emergency. Surrounding black-out zones can be counties wide without gas services. A lifted four wheel drive can have some advantages in fire situations and can carry more equipment, and sometimes offer sleeping shelter inside.
Leave early in a vehicle, preferably a truck or four wheel drive. Being able to drive over small obstacles, over medians easily, turn around on soft shoulders are advantages. “It’s not like I need to go hundreds of miles, I just need to not run out of gas and get out of the fires path,” Cory said about the advantages of his truck.
Camping Gear as Survival Gear– If you have time in advance, pack camping gear and canned food. Have it ready to go together. Having a sleeping bag, pad, possibly a tent, propane grill, and some basic cookware can help turn an evacuation or long term black out into an inconvenience.
Fire Insurance– Take photos of things if you have insurance, and make sure your coverage extends to the value of what you own. Many policies don’t cover additional valuables like jewelry which need additional rider policies most times.
No Drones– Cory mentioned, “It would have been nice to have been able to fly my drone to know where the families were- but it’s super illegal to fly one in a disaster area. Helicopters stop flying if there is a drone in the area and can’t dump water.” Don’t fly your drone in a fire zone.
Defensible Space around the House– “Houses were more dense in my neighborhood versus the larger five acre lots nearby. Most of those houses made it because they had defensible space. The grass fire around them is easier to fight and less intense. The small dense trees and buildings near by is a nightmare to fight apparently. The really big trees mostly survive and have clearings around them, so its not as bad either. Clear brush and make defensible space around your house.” Cory Rantanen
Garage Door Know-how– Open the garage early and know how to disengage your opener, and how to open the door manually. Once the power goes out it won’t work.
Tips for Pulminary Sensitive groups
Neilmed: Wash sinuses with neilmed 2-3x/day.
Ayr sailine gel: Put a q-tips worth of saline gel in each nostril before putting on your mask and going outdoors.
Other Useful Links
Amazon Store–
I’ve created links to some of the items in the blog that area available at my Amazon Storefront. When you purchase through the Amazon store it helps support the website.
Click on any of the images below to purchase.
3M Particle Mask
Cal Fire
https://www.fire.ca.gov
I would like to thank my Friend Cory Rantanen for the interview. Cory did almost all of the custom off-road modifications to my Toyota Tacoma and I would recommend him to anyone needing work to their four wheel drive vehicles. You can contact him at cbrantanen@gmail.com and his business is BRD Fabrication.
Wildfire preparedness upgrades help everyone in the community including first responders. Upgrade your skills, fire harden your property, and be prepared.