Wildfires are one of, if not, the most …and damaging natural disasters in the world. The Palisade wildfires in Los Angeles have affected more than 200,000 citizens, 1,400 homes burned down, and 27 deaths connected to the fires, as reported by NBC News on January 16. 

Due to the recent change in climate, fires have become more frequent causing chaos amongst the lives of many especially those in California. FFA Chapter Secretary Adrian Campo-Navarette said, “The wildfires in LA are a serious issue as even I who doesn’t watch the news came to find out about this. I feel bad for the residents and hope that the wildfires are taken care of soon.” 

 The wildfires blazing have made it even more important to be educated, so here are four ways to be able to spot and prevent fires in your area. 

1) Learn To Report Fire Hazards

Understanding and reporting fire hazards is important in preventing wildfires. Here are some examples of common fire hazards to look out for: 

– Overloaded outlets, flammable liquids unsupervised (like gasoline), cooking appliances and majority heating equipment. 

• “If you smell gas, do not turn on anything that can produce a flame.” 
•  Edwyn Santiago Bazan, Sophomore and a part of the FFA program. 

Now, how would you report fire hazards? First, evacuate the area immediately and let other individuals that are around you know what’s happening. After doing this first step, quickly but calmly alert the authorities and let them know the situation. Make sure to always dial 911 first when faced with a life-threatening event. Thirdly, when faced with the authorities, make sure to provide the exact location of the fire, if there’s anyone trapped in the fire, or any more pertinent information regarding the fire. As Santiago-Bazan mentioned, if there’s an odd type of smell that could suddenly create flames that smells something similar to rotten eggs, don´t turn anything on and immediately alert the authorities and the public.

2) Extinguish Fire Properly

“Wildfires can be prevented by knowing how to properly handle a fire and having the proper equipment if a fire were to break out on accident.” Campo-Navarette. 

If this is true, how can we properly extinguish a fire?

1. Candles.

• Blow them out before bed or leaving the house. 
• 2. Cigarettes

• Extinguish them out or pour water over them.
  3. Campfires

• Allow the wood to burn into ashes, then pour water over it until the hissing sound stops and drown all embers, including the red ones. Stir the campfire ashes until it is cool enough to touch or throw dirt on it. Also make sure to check the weather before starting a fire since high winds can spread the embers and start a wildfire.4. Fires (in general) 

• Use a fire extinguisher for fires in your home, outdoors, or anywhere needed. Never use water, as it can spread, unless it’s really pressurized and there’s lots of it. 

If you’re ever in a scenario faced with an ongoing fire, it’s very vital to know how to extinguish a fire properly with the needed equipment to do so. As the steps listed, it’s important to always have a fire extinguisher when it comes to dealing with fire hazards, but another important fact is to never try to put out a grease fire with water, as it increases the chances of grease fire explosions, so fire extinguishers are very essential to deal with fires. 

3) Spread Awareness

Educating others is one of the most powerful ways to prevent fires. Here are some ways to help you and your community to be aware of the dangers and how to prevent them:

1. Knowing your wildfire risk.

• Stay updated on local fire danger levels and weather conditions.

WILDFIRE RISK: https://wildfirerisk.org/explore/overview/06/06077/0600075000/

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY EVACUATION MAPS: https://sjmap.org/evacmaps/

FIRE ADMINISTRATION: 

  (209) 937-8801

1. Knowing your local emergency hotlines.

• Being knowledgeable of your local emergency hotlines can help you act quickly in case a fire breaks out near you.

1. Inform people what to do and what not to do.

• If there’s anyone you know that has less experience when it comes to dealing with fires, make sure to give them critical tips or let a professional provide essential information for fire prevention.

Wildfires are a serious issue. Don’t leave a fire unattended, you never know what could happen. If you would like to help with the current situation with the fires in LA, here are a couple links to donate too. Anything helps. 

With Additional help from Savannah Advincula, Daijha Cooper, and Wilbur Balanay