During a fire
During a Wildfire itโs important to remain calm and know how to act.
Discover answers on:
During a Fire
During a Wildfire itโs important to remain calm and know how to act.
Discover answers on:
What to do during a Wildfire?
1 – Contact authorities
Firstly, remain calm. If you have a telephone or mobile phone nearby, dial 112 and give the following information:
- Your location – Address or name of street/road/town and if you can’t tell, give the nearest point of reference (name of establishment, landmark in the landscape etc.);
- What you see – flames, smoke and its colour, whether near or far from where you are, what type of vegetation is burning (whether scrubland, trees, grassland, etc.)
- Direction of the fire – use a reference point to indicate where the fire is and where it is heading
After this call, you need to keep an eye on your phone as you may be contacted by the authorities, if there are any doubts about the location of the fire.
If you are not near a telephone/mobile, go to the nearest house/establishment and ask for help.
2 – Be safe and follow instructions
Firstly, remain calm. If you have a telephone or mobile phone nearby, dial 112 and give the following information:
Avoid driving in areas close to the fire. To not disrupt the actions of the Fire Brigade, Forest Rangers (and other rescue forces) and follow their instructions. Move your vehicle away from fire access routes.
If you are near a fire:
- protect your airways from smoke by covering your mouth and nose with a damp cloth
- protect your body from the flames and heat with long, dry clothing.
If you are surrounded:
- Breathe close to the ground, if possible, through a wet cloth, to avoid inhaling smoke;
- Find a safe escape route and do not stop in windy places. You may get trapped by the fire;
- If you have no alternative, head towards the burnt area, crossing in areas where the fire is less intense;
- Head for a collective shelter or refuge. If it’s not nearby, look for an area that is preferably flat, with water or little to no vegetation;
If a fire is approaching and you are at home:
- Warn your neighbours;
- If you are safe, switch off and remove the gas cylinders to a safe place;
- Move outdoor furniture, firewood and tarpaulins away from the house;
- Close all openings in the house (doors, windows, chimneys, etc.) and close the shutters to prevent sparks and smoke from entering;
- Inside the house, keep material that could burn away from the windows and put wet towels in the gaps (in windows and doors);
- Water down the walls, roof and 10 metres around the house. Switch on the sprinklers to keep the outside wet;
- Switch on the outside lights to see better in the smoke;
- If you are not in danger and have suitable clothing, extinguish small outbreaks with water, soil or green branches.
- Do not leave your home unless the escape route is completely safe.
If you have to seek shelter indoors:
- Fill all baths and sinks with water so that you can extinguish any internal outbreak;
- Move away from the walls;
- Seek shelter in the rooms at the opposite end of the house from where the fire is approaching;
- Wait for the fire to pass and then check for outbreaks of fire in the surrounding area and on the roof.
If you have to evacuate:
- Comply with the authorities’ instructions;
- Help children, the elderly and people with limited mobility;
- Take your evacuation kit and identification documents;
- Don’t waste time collecting unnecessary objects and don’t turn back;
- Close doors and windows as you leave;
- Take your pets with you;
- Make your way quickly to the nearest collective shelter or refuge.