[CampingSurvival]

Firefighters fighting one of Colorado's forest fires have made a grim discovery: two bodies. What is truly sad is: "They were next to a car with its doors open. The car's trunk was packed full of belongings." They were clearly meaning to bug out but way, way too late. Don't let this happen to you, no matter what natural disaster you may need to flee from. Always, always be prepared and always, always be ready and willing to bug out!

What do you think prevents people from bugging out?

Source: http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_23451177/black-forest-fire-evacuation-zone-expands-winds-lightning

 

[Jenstc2003]

Good question. I would like to think that I wouldn't be one caught like they were, but I can't say I wouldn't, either. Sometimes things just move too fast, I would imagine. You think you have time and are working at packing... then you don't. That sounds like what happened with these people. Having pets and farm animals might keep you there if you can't find someone to take them, or if you have to wait for someone to take them. If you had family away and were expecting them home quickly, you might stay. And of course the desire to protect the home that you've put so much time and money into. Of course, any and all of these can be avoided by having a plan in place. Then you could bug out in peace.

 

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

The same thing that keeps cow in a burning barn , kids hiding in closets or under beds in a fire. Instinct to stay in a safe place and realization far to late that your safe place isn't safe any more.

this is why we now train kids to get low and go nearly as soon as they can walk and speak

 

[where I want to]

Yes- I agree the question that is relevant is what kept them from leaving before it was too late since they obviously were intending to go.
Around here, it might be very possible to have your escape route cut off. So do you leave if you get news that there is a fire a mile away? Then you would be leaving every week.
For people who live where there are wide open spaces,you might not realize that it is possible that the trees could cut you off from being able to see trouble heading your way. Especially in my area where a short tree is a 150 feet high and a dense wall.
It is something to think on.

 

[unregistered41671]

I think that people in that situation are waiting till the last second to leave, hoping and thinking their property may be spared, and then suddenly the smoke is thicker than thought, and it overcomes them.

 

[Ernie]

Bugging out sucks. And like all suckworthy things, people wait until the last minute to do them.

 

[calliemoonbeam]

It sounds like they're better organized up there, but I know here when we have wild fires there's really no warning system. If someone comes banging on your door to tell you it's time to go, it could very well be too late. The fires spread so fast and can change direction in a second, and with the hills and trees it can be less than a mile from your house and you not be able to tell it, depending on which direction the wind is blowing the smoke. Then you also have to worry about whether your exit route is still open or not.

The two times I've had to bug out here I didn't have time to do anything but grab my purse and my daily meds from my desk, jump in the truck and go! Luckily, I keep a BOB in the truck at all times, but I didn't have time to grab anything else. There's only one way in and out of here, which is a very rough, rocky gravel road on a hill that requires 4WD in winter and in rainy season.

That article said someone spoke to them 40 minutes prior, and they said they could see a glow "off to the west". They probably thought they had time to get a few more things, but the fire sped up or switched directions, and then it was too late. It's a terrible shame, and I certainly hope no one else dies. I'll be praying for their families.

People talk about how horrible the tornadoes are here, but we have a much better warning system for them than we do for fires. When there are fires in this area, which there are just about every summer, I'm on almost constant watch outside and if I even think it's getting close I head out to my son's 25 miles away. Those two close calls were enough for me. I thought they'd have it on the emergency band scanner or a reverse 911 type warning or something, but there was nothing either of those times.

I still consider Colorado "home" and I'm still heartbroken over the thousands of acres that burned last year and now this. Don't know if I even want to go back and see the ruins.

 

[where I want to]

The only time I was "caught" in a wild fire was when camping with a large horse group. The only way to drive out of the campground was the area on fire. When I finally got back to where I could see the camp ground, I was on a bluff about 100 feet high on the other side of a river, less than 200 feet from the camp, and I could not see the fire was burning 50 feet from the camp because there were trees in the way. The smoke was being blown the other way. And there was little smoke at all anyway.
The only way I knew there was a fire was by the helicoters shuttling water to the fire.
The people who will be in trouble are the people who think they have plan and therefore have it under control. Plans are made but nature gets rid of them in a hurry.

 

[Rose1317]

Could be they were calling their dog who had hidden, and not wanting to leave it there, they waited.....I just say this because often people will even go back into a burning building to try to rescue a beloved pet. It's very sad that this happened, hopefully no more lives will be lost.

 

[Shine]

...if your exit is through a forest I would imagine that one would have to have up to date info to navigate out. Thinking that this was a last second moment is assumption, they might have been miles away from the fire but the path to safety might have led them straight into the inferno...

 

[Raymond James]

I think everyone should take a look at likely events (wild fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, ice storm, predicted snow over 12 inches) ) for their location the develop a plan of action for that event.

In wild fire areas everyone should have important papers in a fire box, a BOB/suit case packed for an overnight and be able to attempt evacuation at a moments notice. I would not expect to be able to take pets and livestock unless I had several hours notice.

 

[Wolf mom]

Last year I was sent home from work because the local news told of a fire burning near where I live. I do have a plan, lock box with all important papers and bug out bag - even one for my dog.

Multiple things happened while I was preparing to leave:

I waited until the fire was closer - didn't want to leave if I didn't have to.
As I looked around, I saw more things I needed to take with me - I am the keeper of irreplaceable family history - the family bible, quilts, pictures, etc - the pile got bigger & bigger.
Had to make calls to neighbors to make sure they were OK and if they needed assistance as I have an extra trailer & multiple cages.
On & on - you know how it goes.
Time just gets away from you.

This sure was an eye opener for me as I was sure I was prepared!

As far as livestock: move them early & move them far if it's a major fire - waiting until you get notice to evacuate is too late. I kept 2 horses that had been moved twice as the Wallow Fire changed it's course. The owners had to leave another two as the sheriff would not let them back on the property to retrieve them.

 

[where I want to]

As far as livestock: move them early & move them far if it's a major fire - waiting until you get notice to evacuate is too late. I kept 2 horses that had been moved twice as the Wallow Fire changed it's course. The owners had to leave another two as the sheriff would not let them back on the property to retrieve them.

Thank you for this thought.

 

[joebill]

Lots of possibilities, but having fought wildfires I can tell you that first the fire is waaay over there, then it's a looong way off yet, then it's fairly close but plenty of time, then the wind kicks up across the fire in your direction and a tree that's many yards from the flames pretty much explodes in a couple of seconds.

That's when you finally figure out just how much heat is really there, and that's the time you either save your life if you are lucky or lose it if you are not. Until you are close, you cannot fathom just how hot it is, and how far ahead of the flames the heat travels. Inhale one lungful of superheated air and you are, if you'll excuse the expression, toast.

Movie and TV versions of fires are misleading and probably get people killed because they think they can do what the movie stars do. Few people find out different until their skin starts crinkling, and then they never get to warn anyone else that movies are only pretend.....Joe

 

[Pony]

People tend to believe that bad things happen only to other people. We become complacent, and then, we don't move when we should.

Drills to prep are important for that reason. I'm sitting here thinking how important it is to think through any number of scenarios to make sure you have a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, etc. If we don't think things through, if we aren't sharp and ready to rock, we could be the next people found dead next to our prepped vehicle.