wildfire

What to do when a wildfire approaches

wildfire

First and foremost, make sure you and your family stay safe. Everything else can be replaced. If requested by the authorities, immediately follow all evacuation orders, and know that if anything happens, Chubb will do what’s right for you—whether that’s finding you a place to stay during repairs or finding you a similar home in your school district.

If you have time to take action and the fires are far enough away that they are not threatening your safety, here are some things you can do to assist firefighters and minimize the damage to your home.

1. Listen to emergency officials.

If they say evacuate, leave your home immediately.

2. If you see a fire, report it.

You may be the first one to spot a “hot spot,” so call 911 immediately if you see a fire, even if it’s a small one.

3. Shut off the gas.

Turn off propane at the tank or natural gas at the meter, and turn off all pilot lights.

4. Check your vents.

Special fire prevention vents, such as those from BrandGuard, resist flames and embers and can help protect your home from wildfire damage.

5. Make your home easier to spot.

Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke. Turn on exterior lights as well.

massive plumes of brush fire smoke

6. Take the “kindling” away.

Move furniture away from windows and doors. Remove lightweight or non-fire-resistant window treatments. Put combustible patio furniture, doormats, toys, and trash cans inside the house or garage. If you have time, rake dead leaves away from the home and from under wood decks and clear the roof of any pine needles.

7. Make it easy for firefighters.

If your home is gated, leave the gate propped open to allow fire fighters easy access to your property. Connect garden hoses to outside taps. Fill buckets with water and place them around the house. Put a ladder against a corner of your house, so firefighters have easy access to your roof.

8. Wet down your space.

Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near above-ground fuel tanks. Wet down the roof and shrubs within 15 feet of your home, but don’t leave sprinklers on or water running, as it can affect the water pressure.

firefighters fight brushfire

9. Check for embers.

Even the smallest ember can start a fire, so continually check your roof and attic for embers, smoke, or fire.

10. Locate your evacuation kits.

Make sure your evacuation kits are ready to go – for yourself, your family and your pets – in case you need to leave.

Insights and expertise

We help you stay ahead and informed with these helpful tips and tricks for protecting your home, car, and more.
smoke plume from forest
Wildfire
How to prepare for a wildfire
With a record number of wildfires, acres burned, and homes destroyed in recent years, we’ve put together some proactive steps you can take to keep your family and home safe.
wildfire painting
Wildfire
Protecting your art and other valuables from wildfire damage
With wildfire seasons getting longer very year, you’ll want to take steps to protect your home, art and other collectibles.
view from space of hurricane
Earthquake
Catastrophe Vocabulary: Understanding the language of severe weather
To properly plan and prepare for extreme weather conditions it’s important to understand the language used in weather forecasting and reporting.
brush fire approaching homes
Wildfire
Protect your home from wildfires with ember-resistant vents
The right vents can help keep your home safe during wildfire season.
forest wildfire
Wildfire
5 ways to make your home more resistant to wildfire
Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one, incorporating fire-resistive materials can help protect your home from wildfires and enable it to act as a fire break, potentially reducing the size of the fire and helping firefighters get it under control more easily.
wildfire behind the houses
Wildfire
Post-wildfire home inspection guide
The smoke is beginning to clear, and authorities have told you that it’s safe for you to return home. But, before you dig in and start cleaning up, here are a few of the dangers that could still be lurking around and what you can do to protect yourself and those you love.

Find an Agent

Speak to an independent agent about your insurance needs.

This document is advisory in nature and is offered as a resource to be used together with your professional insurance advisors in maintaining a loss prevention program. It is an overview only, and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with your insurance broker, or for legal, engineering or other professional advice.

Chubb is the marketing name used to refer to subsidiaries of Chubb Limited providing insurance and related services. For a list of these subsidiaries, please visit our website at www.chubb.com. Insurance provided by ACE American Insurance Company and its U.S. based Chubb underwriting company affiliates. All products may not be available in all states. This communication contains product summaries only. Coverage is subject to the language of the policies as actually issued. Surplus lines insurance sold only through licensed surplus lines producers. Chubb, 202 Hall's Mill Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-1600.