You can't prepare for this!

Sanza · #1 05/17/11, 12:53 PM

Up here in Alberta there are forest fires burning out of control, a few burning through other towns as well as this one. This past week we have had very heavy winds - almost gale force whipping the fires on......

"Amid pleas to keep calm and seek refuge from the still-leaping flames in Slave Lake, the Alberta government told residents it is battling 115 wildfires across the province, 36 of them out of their control.

Approximately 1,000 firefighters have been dispatched to fight the fires, with many of those sent to the community of 7,000 people now 40% destroyed by flames swept in by strong winds Sunday evening. The 100-plus fires have burned away 107,000 hectares of land, the government said in an update posted at 10 p.m. local time Monday. The Lesser Slave Lake region is home to 15 of the fires officials say they have yet to calm."

Nine years ago this weekend some close friends had their house and all outbuildings burn down when a fire went through here, and they were lucky enough to let their cattle loose and grab a couple things - that's all the notice they got!

Now there is no way to prepare for devastation like a fire unless you have an underground cellar or somewhere else to store supplies.
How would you prepare for an evacuation and what would you take with you knowing your whole farmyard was going to burn down completely?

Tracy Rimmer · #2 05/17/11, 01:06 PM

Sanza -- how far are you from Slave Lake?

It seems unreal to be hearing about these hundreds of forest fires destroying so much of northern Alberta when we're flooding -- everything seems out of whack this spring!

I'm praying for your continued safety!

As for what I'd take? I'd try to load up the livestock, let the rest go, and get the kids, dogs, and DH out of here. I'd try to grab my parent's portrait, and my mom's stuffed pig (a stuffie that my kids gave her to have at the hospital with her at the end, and which she had on her pillow as she died), and our BOBs. Nothing else would be worth risking sticking around for, IMHO. Certainly, there is stuff I'd hate to lose, but in comparison to getting my family out? Nope -- not worth it.

PrincessFerf · #3 05/17/11, 01:09 PM

Scary thought, indeed. I would definitely set my animals free - any that I couldn't take with me QUICKLY. That would at least give them a better chance than being locked in a building or fence.

Grab your BOBs and anything else you could carry before the flames got near.

I sincerely hope that they get those fires under control soon. Praying for everyone's safety.

SquashNut · #4 05/17/11, 01:22 PM

Bob's, important papers, bottled water, extra set of clothes. Money and gone. with my dogs of course.

Sanza · #5 05/17/11, 01:30 PM

Tracy I'm about 3 hours SE from Slave Lake but there are fires all over and very heavy winds to fuel the fires.
I'm in Smoky Lake county and we've basically been in a drought for the last 20 years or so, with only a couple of showers so far this spring. We're lucky if we get 10 inches of rain in the spring/summer/fall season.
Yes, we need to build a pipeline for the water to divert it here. I hope your place isn't one of those the government is sacrificing!
This website shows the overwhelming response in just 1 day - Both Athabasca and Westlock, two of the biggest towns close by have issued statements saying to hold off on donations because they are swamped with them already!
WTG Albertans!

http://www.rebuildslavelake.com/

AngieM2 · #6 05/17/11, 01:32 PM

sure am sorry to hear Canada is having this crazy weather and fires, too.

I guess the only way to prep for this would have everything where it's ready to be grabbed to go, and not deciding what to take and packing papers and such up as the fire is at the door. (or flood, or whatever)

Be safe.

Sonshine · #7 05/17/11, 01:35 PM

We have an RV that we kept stocked with food, water, clothes, ect. I'd grab some pictures and important papers, put as many of my chickens in dog carries and put them in the van to tow behind the RV. Dogs would go in the RV with us. Since we have small goats we could probably take most of them, they would fit in the back of the van and we'd put the dog carriers with chickens in the front of the van.

Cheryl in SD · #8 05/17/11, 03:17 PM

When fire season starts we have BOBs ready to go, The important papers & family photos are in rubber maid tubs, stored in the office by the front door. We can be out the door in 2-5 minutes. If we've got time we take both vehicles & load them down, if not we just go. Last time we had hours & took most everything of value. Some years the photos stay in the vehicle with the BOBs & camping equipment.

Big reminder. Have a plan of where you are going and make sure everyone knows. Plan escape routes & know every route available, it could save your life. Put an address book in your vehicles & if possible store important account numbers off-site (I keep a list at my mom's in town during high danger times.)

Fire-Wise your property. Before it gets close, cut trees & vegetation, keep it wet & green. Make a permanent fire break.

There is more but I don't remember right now.

watcher · #9 05/17/11, 03:50 PM

You can prep for it.

You landscape in a way to prevent fire from being able to spread from the trees to your buildings and from one building to another.

If possible you have a tractor and disk where you can make as big of a fire break as possible between the forest and your buildings. Or at least the ones you REALLY want to keep.

You set up sprinklers on the tops and sides of buildings and make sure you have enough water and power to deliver it to keep things wet. If you think the the fire is going to reach you, you turn on the sprinklers.

The biggest danger in most cases the biggest danger is hot embers falling down and starting little fires which spread and grow into bigger ones. If you can prevent the embers from starting those little fires you can save your property.

soulsurvivor · #10 05/17/11, 04:08 PM

With large fires, the escape route is critical so that you don't end up in more trouble than what you left behind. Timing is everything too. Plan to leave well ahead of any danger from fire. It would be a really bad scenario if you had a flat tire or the vehicle quit running, so plan for how that would be handled and carry anything with you that would assist a quick exit from the fire zone.

Rocktown Gal · #11 05/17/11, 04:12 PM

Sorry to hear about the fires up your way.

BOB's and animals that can go with you. Others turn loose and Pray that they make it.

Be safe my friend!

Fowler · #12 05/17/11, 04:36 PM

If you set your animals free...I would suggest placing your name and # on them. So people will know where to return them. That was a suggestion from the Texas fires.

Please keep safe.

What are BOB's?

Rocktown Gal · #13 05/17/11, 05:33 PM

Bug out bag. Keep important documents, some money, extra clothes etc.

Do a search on this forum to find out all about what you can put into a BOB.

ne prairiemama · #14 05/17/11, 06:10 PM

I don't have any extra advice but I'll be praying for your safety. Oh don't forget your medicines if you have to take any!

Sanza · #15 05/18/11, 12:23 AM

What I'm thinking about is the futility of prepping and having a good supply of food and necessities and to have it all wiped out with a fire.

Fowler most livestock here is branded and tagged up the ying yang so there's no question about ownership...lol

With the high winds the fire guards were not enough because the sparks flew for miles and the dried grass went up instantly.

So sorryfor all the homeless jobless people now, and I'm hoping that there are no more towns in danger this summer.

Editing to add....a reason for a lot of spring fires up here is because the natives believe it's their right to have their annual "cleansing rituals" even when there's a fire ban

unregistered29228 · #16 05/18/11, 08:18 AM

I'm sorry to hear about the fires - a house fire is one of my biggest fears. And it's one of the very few scenarios that would make me leave our home. Our BOBs are packed just in case of fire or earthquake, and possibly some kind of chemical spill. Otherwise you have to take me out of here in a body bag.

Our Little Farm · #17 05/18/11, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watcher

You can prep for it.

You landscape in a way to prevent fire from being able to spread from the trees to your buildings and from one building to another.

If possible you have a tractor and disk where you can make as big of a fire break as possible between the forest and your buildings. Or at least the ones you REALLY want to keep.

You set up sprinklers on the tops and sides of buildings and make sure you have enough water and power to deliver it to keep things wet. If you think the the fire is going to reach you, you turn on the sprinklers.

The biggest danger in most cases the biggest danger is hot embers falling down and starting little fires which spread and grow into bigger ones. If you can prevent the embers from starting those little fires you can save your property.

I just read about a family who did just that to survive a forest fire.

Hope your place stays safe OP, and Tracy, I am hoping things are getting better where you are.

debbiekatiesmom · #18 05/18/11, 09:13 AM

if you have time, would it be feasible to bury some of your food items, etc? would there be some problem doing this for just a short time? i think i might would try digging a big hole and putting things in trash bags and tossing things in there. you did say there was a drought so i wouldn't think water seeping would be the issue? then dig it back out when you were able to come back home? can someone tell me if there would be a reason for not doing that?

Tracy Rimmer · #19 05/18/11, 09:18 AM

We've got far too much water, and Sanza doesn't have enough -- I have a feeling that this might be the "new normal".

The river crested here yesterday, so the flooding should be receding over the next few days -- we'll see.

Still praying for your safety, Sanza -- hopefully the fires are soon under control and the cleanup can begin.

mightybooboo · #20 05/18/11, 11:38 AM

Living in a forest there isnt much you can do about defense.Its an inferno.In our place sprinklers would be worthless,it just EXPLODES trees and houses its so hot.Melted cars,amazing.

Here the fires spread in tree tops and the pine trees ignite like match sticks,everything else is heated to inferno.....you are in the fireplace so to speak,there is no defense but to put out the fires.We have no 'safety zones' as our homes are within 20 feet from another,common lot sizes are 25-50x100 feet,and trees are Everywhere.

I did see a guy who saved his house by completely covering it in some gel stuff,he was a fireman BTW,and he did have some space around his house,like a quarter acre.We had whole neighborhoods burned out.

Been there twice now.You grab pets,important papers and GET OUT and hope for the best.

Only realistic prep Ive had is Insurance.I sure dont want a Fire Crew to die protecting my house,and they do.Thats wrong,my house isnt worth it.

Get car gassed up,get what you can in it and get out when they tell you.Just GET OUT,nothing is worth your life property wise.

Fire in forest,ugly ugly ugly.

Wishing you the best.