By Nikola Marshall

Wildfires are burning out of control in Texas and Oklahoma. Land, homes and entire towns are being consumed by the flames. Are you prepared to take appropriate action should you find yourself or your property in the path of such a fire?

Low humidity, windy conditions and no foreseeable sign of rain add up to extremely dangerous situations. Having a plan in place and following it closely could save your life.

When Driving:

Do NOT drive into heavy smoke. Visibility can reach zero. You won’t be able to see other cars, emergency vehicles and the fire itself. You could possibly drive into the fire itself and the flames could jump the road behind you, leaving no escape.

Do NOT go in search of the source and do not follow emergency vehicles. Getting in the way of fire trucks, ambulances and police not only place your life in danger but the lives of these people and those they are trying to help as well.

Do not approach a scene downwind. Wildfire can spread very quickly and you may become trapped. These fires also produce their own weather, such as windstorms, which make them dangerously unpredictable.

The wisest course of action is to stay as far away as possible from the scene.

At Home:

Keep grass cut low, brush cleared away and shrubs trimmed. This will lessen the fuel for the fire to feed on.

Do not burn trash, leaves or light the barbeque grill. Do NOT toss cigarette butts onto dry grass. In dry, windy conditions, all it takes is the smallest of sparks to ignite parched grass and brush.

Keep water hoses hooked up to an outdoor spigot. Should a fire threaten your home, water grass, trees, shrubs, outbuildings, and most importantly, your home. Embers can jump and ignite easily. Keeping your home and yard as moist could very well save it.

Have an escape plan. Know all the exits available from your home. One or more may be cut off and you will need to know all of the alternatives.

You may not have time to rescue your possessions. You, your family, and pets should be your foremost concern.

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