How much warning do wildfire evacuations give?

Sometimes days; often minutes. Wind-driven fires like the Camp, Marshall, and Palisades fires moved miles per hour. Plan for a 10-minute departure — anything more is a bonus.

What should be in a wildfire go-bag?

N95 masks, prescriptions, phone charger and battery pack, cash, ID and insurance copies in a waterproof bag, N95-filtered goggles, cotton clothing (synthetics melt), sturdy shoes, water, food bars, pet carriers and food, hard drives or a copy of family photos.

Should I stay and defend my home?

In most US jurisdictions, no. 'Stay and defend' is Australian doctrine; American fire behavior and construction codes are different, and the fatality rate for civilians who stay is high. Leave when told, ideally before.

How do I make my home more defensible?

Class-A roof, ember-resistant vents, 5-foot non-combustible perimeter, defensible space cleared to 30 feet, no wood fencing attached to the house, and gutters kept clean. Our home hardening guide covers the details.

How do I know my address's wildfire risk?

Run your address through ArchipelAI's homeowner demo for a wildfire score built from slope, vegetation, distance to wildland, wind, and drought — plus a 20-year outlook.

Wildfire evacuation checklist: go-bag, plan, and 10-minute drill.

A go-bag, a plan, and a 10-minute drill you can run this weekend. Wind-driven fires do not give you time to think.

The 10-minute rule

Assume 10 minutes between the evacuation order and needing to be in the car. Wind-driven fires (Camp 2018, Marshall 2021, Palisades 2025) crossed neighborhoods in single-digit minutes. Any preparation you can do that takes less than 10 minutes on the day is preparation you can rely on.

Go-bag (packed and stored by the door)

N95 masks — one per person, plus extras.
Prescription medications for 7 days.
Phone chargers, battery pack, headlamp.
Cash in small bills.
Waterproof pouch with IDs, insurance policy, deed, birth certificates.
Change of cotton clothing (synthetics melt on skin) and sturdy closed-toe shoes.
Water bottles, high-calorie bars.
N95-fit goggles and leather gloves.
Pet carrier, leash, food, meds, vaccination records.
A single hard drive with family photos and tax records, or a printed cloud-backup checklist.

The 10-minute drill

Grab the go-bag.
Grab laptops, phones, chargers, wallet, keys.
Grab pets, kids, medications.
Close all interior doors — slows fire spread.
Turn off gas at the meter if you can do it in under 60 seconds; otherwise skip.
Leave the driveway gate and front door unlocked so firefighters can enter.
Drive out on your primary route. If it's blocked, use secondary. If secondary is blocked, drive toward paved open ground (parking lot, ball field) — not into vegetation.

Run this drill twice a year. Time it. Whatever you couldn't do in 10 minutes, pre-stage or leave behind.

Evacuation planning

Identify two evacuation routes in different directions. The primary route can be blocked by the fire itself.
Identify two destinations at least 30 miles away in different directions.
Establish an out-of-area contact everyone in the family will text on arrival — local networks will be jammed.
Register for county emergency alerts. In California, use Zonehaven.
Know your home address (visible from the road, in reflective numbers) — dispatchers need it.

Before the season

Clear defensible space: 0–5 feet non-combustible; 5–30 feet lean, clean, green.
Screen vents with 1/8" mesh to keep embers out.
Class-A roof, remove pine needles from gutters and roof valleys.
Move firewood and propane tanks at least 30 feet from the house.
Photograph the interior and exterior of the home. Store on the cloud. This is what your insurer will ask for.

Know your address's wildfire exposure

Wildfire risk is intensely local — slope, vegetation, and prevailing wind can make two houses on the same street very different exposures. Run your address through the ArchipelAI homeowner demo for a modeled wildfire score, plus a 20-year outlook. Also see our wildfire risk map guide and home hardening checklist.

Wildfire evacuation checklist.