A wildfire can go from a distant cloud of smoke to an immediate threat frighteningly quickly. The best time to prepare is before you can smell smoke. Huge thanks to Paul Tilly from Cómpeta who inspired this version of the survival guide with his own graphic version. All of his very helpful pictures are below.

▶️ Prefer to watch? Click the video image to see Walter and me work through the full Wildfire Survival Guide.

1. If You See a Fire, Call Immediately

Don’t assume somebody else has already reported it.

• Call the emergency services.
• In Spain and across the EU, call 112.
• Elsewhere, use the local emergency number.
• Give your exact location or GPS coordinates.
• Describe the smoke, flames, size and direction.
• Mention any people, houses or animals at risk.

If you live in the countryside, save your location coordinates on your phone now.

2. Create Space Around Your Home

Dry vegetation gives fire an easy route towards a building.

Clear away:

• Dry grass and weeds
• Fallen leaves
• Pine needles
• Dead plants and branches
• Garden waste
• Other combustible material

Five metres is a basic minimum to think about. Around 30 metres is better where the land, terrain and local regulations allow.

Remember: fire usually travels faster uphill.

3. Break the Fuel Path

Look at your property as though you were a flame.

Could the fire travel from:

• A tree to a hedge?
• A hedge to a wooden fence?
• A fence to a pergola?
• A pergola to your house?

Trees, shrubs, fences, firewood and garden rubbish can create a continuous path for fire.

Use well-maintained areas of:

• Gravel
• Stone
• Tiles
• Short, watered vegetation

These can help create breaks between the surrounding land and your home.

4. Protect Your Roof and Gutters

A wildfire doesn’t have to reach your house for your house to catch fire.

Wind-blown embers can travel far ahead of the main flames.

Check and clear:

• Roofs
• Gutters
• Terraces
• Drainage channels
• Vents
• Gaps beneath roof tiles

Remove dry leaves and pine needles regularly.

Repair broken tiles and other openings where embers could enter. Ember-resistant mesh may also help protect vulnerable vents.

5. Move Fuel Away From Buildings

Don’t provide the fire with everything it needs.

Keep firewood:

• Away from the house
• Away from covered terraces
• Away from sheds and garages
• Away from fences and vegetation

Store gas bottles and fuel correctly and away from obvious fire risks.

Check sheds and outbuildings for:

• Petrol
• Paint
• Machinery
• Chemicals
• Gas bottles
• Piles of cardboard or rubbish

These smaller buildings can increase the risk to your main home.

6. Make Sure Firefighters Can Reach You

Emergency services cannot help if they cannot find or reach the property.

• Keep tracks and entrances clear.
• Make sure gates open properly.
• Trim vegetation beside access roads.
• Leave enough room for emergency vehicles.
• Display your house number clearly.
• Save and share your GPS coordinates.

A swimming pool, water deposit or accessible water source could be useful to firefighters.

Check that:

• Outdoor taps work.
• Hose connections are secure.
• Hoses can reach around the property.

But never assume a pool means you should stay and defend the house.

Water can be replaced. You cannot.

7. Plan Your Evacuation

Don’t wait until smoke is blocking the road.

Decide in advance:

• Which routes you could use
• Where roads might become blocked
• Whether an alternative route exists
• Where your family will meet
• Who you will contact
• Where you will go

During high-risk periods:

• Keep fuel in the car.
• Don’t park where you could be trapped.
• Keep the keys accessible.
• Avoid overloading the vehicle.
• Tell somebody where you are going.

If authorities instruct you to evacuate, leave immediately.

8. Prepare an Emergency Go-Bag

Keep it somewhere easy to reach—not hidden in the loft or at the back of a cupboard.

Include:

• Medication
• Important documents or copies
• Passport or identity documents
• Water
• Phone and charger
• Power bank
• Torch
• First-aid supplies
• Change of clothes
• Suitable footwear
• Protective mask
• Spare keys

Take essentials, not everything you own.

An evacuation is not the time to play luggage Tetris.

9. Include Your Pets

Your animals need an evacuation plan too.

Keep ready:

• Leads
• Carriers
• Food
• Water
• Medication
• Identification details
• Microchip information
• Veterinary records

Make sure carriers are accessible and pets can be moved quickly.

Horses, livestock and other large animals need a plan well before a fire arrives. Moving them safely cannot be improvised at the last minute.

10. Leave When You Are Told

Wildfires can change speed and direction suddenly, particularly during hot, dry and windy conditions.

Do not:

• Wait until you can see flames.
• Stay to protect a shed or vehicle.
• Drive through closed roads.
• Return for forgotten belongings.
• Go back before authorities say it is safe.

After a fire, the area may still contain:

• Hot spots
• Unstable buildings
• Falling trees
• Damaged electricity supplies
• Gas leaks
• Contaminated water

Property can be repaired.

Possessions can be replaced.

Lives cannot.

If You Are Trapped Outside

Follow emergency-service instructions whenever possible.

• Move towards an area with little vegetation.
• Avoid gullies and valleys.
• Don’t try to outrun a fire uphill.
• Cover your nose and mouth.
• Call the emergency services.
• Share your exact location.

Smoke can reduce visibility and make it difficult to judge where the fire is moving.

If You Are Trapped in a Vehicle

• Park in the clearest available area.
• Move away from dense vegetation.
• Close the windows.
• Close air vents.
• Turn off ventilation and air conditioning.
• Stay inside unless authorities tell you to leave.
• Call the emergency services and give your location.

Never deliberately drive into heavy smoke or through a road closure.

Warning Signs of an Approaching Fire

Take action if you notice:

• A strong smell of smoke
• Thickening smoke
• An orange or red glow
• Ash falling from the sky
• Animals or birds fleeing
• Sudden strong winds
• Rapidly changing wind direction

Do not wait for every warning sign to appear.

Prepare Today

Before wildfire season—or before conditions become worse:

• Clear vegetation.
• Clean gutters.
• Check access routes.
• Save your coordinates.
• Fuel the car.
• Pack a go-bag.
• Prepare for pets.
• Follow official warnings.
• Learn the local emergency number.
• Know when to leave.

The best wildfire plan is the one you make before it’s too late.

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Article by Skatz