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How to Prepare for a Wildfire

As fast-moving wildfires continue to burn across central and eastern Washington, children are at great risk. Wildfires have become a frightening new normal, in part due to the worsening climate crisis, and can destroy or disrupt infrastructure critical to children’s well-being, including schools, homes, health facilities and transportation.

A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire often occurring in open areas like forests, fields or parks. Wildfires can begin unnoticed, but they spread quickly – igniting plants, trees and homes.

This fire season, it's important to be prepared should an emergency strike. Save the Children also offers these wildfire safety tips to show parents what to do in the event of an emergency. 

10 Wildfire Safety Tips for Families

  1. Talk about wildfires with the whole family
  2. Identify the risk of wildfires in your area
  3. Be informed of school disaster plans & procedures
  4. Practice evacuation drills with children
  5. Stay informed by listening to local radio or watching local television stations
  6. Have supplies ready if you must evacuate
  7. Keep children away from smoke & fumes
  8. When returning to a burned area, use caution
  9. Keep children away from burned sites until safe clean up is complete
  10. Limit children's media exposure to wildfire coverage

Below, we break down these wildfire safety tips into what families should do before, during and after a wildfire.

How Can Families Prepare for a Wildfire?

  • Talk about wildfires.
    Spend time with your family discussing why wildfires occur. Explain how to prevent wildfires and what to do if one occurs. Use simple age-appropriate words.
     
  • Know your wildfire risk.
    Learn your area's risk of wildfires, particularly if you live near forests, in rural areas, or in a dry climate. Contact your local fire department, state forestry office, or other emergency response agencies for information on fire laws and wildfire risk. 

    The CDC also notes that wildfire smoke can irritate your lungs, cause inflammation and affect your immune system. Take extra care to protect children against wildfire smoke. Children with asthma and chronic health issues may have more symptoms, including trouble breathing, when smoke or ash is present.
     
  • Learn about caregivers’ disaster plans.
    If your child’s school or childcare center is in an area at risk for wildfires, learn their wildfire emergency plan and evacuation plan. You may be required to pick up children from another location. Review these plans with your children.
     
  • Practice evacuation drills.
    Practice evacuation drills with children to ensure they can evacuate quickly and safely if a wildfire occurs. Plan and practice two different routes from your neighborhood, learn your evacuation routes with your household and pets, and identify alternative destinations in case one route is blocked.
     

What Can Families do to Stay Safe During a Wildfire?

  • Stay informed.
    If a wildfire is approaching, listen regularly to local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information. Follow the instructions of local officials as they will know the safest evacuation route.
     
  • Have supplies ready.
    If you must evacuate, wear protective clothing such as sturdy shoes, long pants (denim, cotton or wool is best) and long-sleeved shirts and gloves. Make sure to have your wildfire emergency supplies ready by building a kit that includes basic emergency items. 

    Lock your home and take a wildfire emergency kit with you.
     
  • Avoid smoke and fumes.
    Keep children, babies and infants away from areas where there is smoke or fumes and stay indoors if possible. Smoke produced by the wildfire may cause breathing problems or contain poisonous toxins.
     

What Can Families Do After a Wildfire?

  • Use caution when returning to a burned area.
    Get permission from fire officials before returning to a burned area. Look out for hazards such as fallen wires and ash pits and be alert as fire re-ignition may be possible.
     
  • Clean up safely.
    Follow public health guidance on safe cleanup of fire ash and safe use of masks and/or respirators. Keep children away from burned sites until cleanup is complete.
     
  • Limit media exposure.
    Protect children from seeing too many sights and images of the wildfire, including those on the internet, TV or in newspapers.
     

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildfire Safety for Families

If a wildfire is approaching your area, listen regularly to local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information and follow the instructions of local officials. If you have to evacuate, lock your home and take a wildfire emergency kit with you. Keep children, babies and infants away from areas where there is smoke or fumes.

Talk about wildfires with your family. Explain why wildfires occur, how to prevent them and what to do if there is one near your area in simple age-appropriate terms. Learn your area's risk of wildfires. Prepare a wildfire emergency evacuation plan with your family and emphasize that their safety is your utmost priority.

Keep children away from burned sites until after safe clean up is complete. Limit children's exposure to sights and images of the wildfire and its aftermath on the internet, TV and in newspapers.

How to Help Children and Families Impacted by Wildfires?

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These tips were developed by Save the Children’s emergency response and child protection experts, based on decades of experience supporting children in crises worldwide. 

Clinically Reviewed by: Save the Children's Child Protection team | Written by: Save the Children Editorial Team| Last Reviewed: August 2026