How to protect your cats and dogs during wildfire evacuations

January isn’t usually wildfire time in the US, but this week’s fires around Los Angeles have been devastating — forcing the evacuation of more than 30,000 people in the area. Pictures from the disaster area show residents leaving their cars on the street and heading to safety, many carrying their belongings and pets.

“A lot of times wildfires happen so quickly that people aren’t ready to go,” said Linnette Round, information officer. Cal Fire.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to be more prepared. We have already talked about how to do it prepare your home and yard for forest fire season, what to pack in a bag How to use emergency apps if you have to leave the house quickly keep in touch and get up-to-date information about natural disasters in your area — and how maintain digital copies of critical documents.

All these tips can help prepare your family and home for the unexpected. But what special precautions should you take for your pets? I received advice from Cal Fire, FEMA, and the American Red Cross on ways to keep your cats, dogs, and other pets safe during a wildfire evacuation.

Include pets in your fire evacuation plan

The wildfire season usually runs from May to October, but recently it has been extended. Forest fires were lit 735,125 hectares It broke records in the US in December 2020. Forecasts say 2025 It will be another record year for wildfires.

The long season and intensity of individual wildfires like Canada’s makes it even more important to have a plan in place before a potential evacuation, including planning for your pets.

“Sometimes (people) don’t have a lot of time and there’s enough time to go out. So if they’re prepared ahead of time, they don’t have to worry about that and they can just grab (the pets) and go,” adds Round.

Note: This article contains information specific to wildfires, but the advice is broadly applicable to emergency preparedness for any natural disaster. Suitable for small animals and pets. If you have questions about how to handle cattle, horses or other large animals in an emergency, Cal Fire has a useful guide.

Familiarize yourself with the emergency alert system in your area

Be aware of the types of natural disasters in your area, says American Red Cross spokeswoman Marilyn Jiménez Dávila. How do local officials warn residents and visitors about wildfires? Are the sirens sounding? Do they broadcast emergency signals on TV and radio? Above all, make sure you know what types of warnings are available where you live and how they are issued. So you will hear evacuation orders as soon as possible.

Make a bag for your pets (and yourself)

Cal Fire details how to prepare and keep pets safe before evacuation. Here are some special pet bag items you should always have ready:

• Pet carrier(s), one per pet
• Enough food and water for two weeks
• Spill/break resistant food and water containers
• Pet first aid kit (you can buy one or do it yourself)
• Medicines with complete instructions for use
• Trash and garbage
• Plastic bags for waste disposal
• Paper towels/cloth towels
• Cleaning supplies
• Brows/collars/harnesses/seat belts
• blanket
• Toys and food

Pack what you can in a bag and keep the rest (litter bins, pet carriers, etc.) close at hand so you can grab whatever you need quickly on your way out the door.

Keep digital copies your pets’ current medical records and other important documents. You should also keep hard copies of this information in a waterproof bag, including adoption papers, vaccination records, their food and feeding schedules, medical/behavioral issues and your veterinarian’s contact information, a FEMA spokesperson suggests via email.

“Include a photo of you and your pet together. If you are separated from your pet during an emergency, a photo of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to help you identify your pet,” says a FEMA spokesperson.

Make sure your pets are microchipped and microchips are active. Make sure they wear their most recent ID on easy-to-read collar tags, including your contact information (and ideally at least one other person’s contact information), rabies tags, and registration IDs.

You might also want to make a bag for yourself. Learn more here: Emergency bag: what to take if you need to leave the house ASAP.

Know where you are going in advance and practice

FEMA provides detailed information evacuation planning, including how to evacuate with small animals. Start by identifying multiple potential evacuation routes and locations, including staying with friends or family or staying in a shelter or hotel. The Red Cross allows service animals, but most shelters do not allow pets.

“We are working with partners to make sure our little animals have a safe place,” explains Red Cross spokesperson Jiménez Dávila. This means you can come to a Red Cross shelter with your pets and the team there will help you find a safe place for them to stay during the evacuation. The American Red Cross Emergency: Alerts app There is a map section with information on shelter locations.

Jiménez Dávila also suggests keeping your car (if you have one) full of gas and facing the road in the direction of your planned evacuation route. “Having a plan is great, but what will really help you is if you practice what you need to do. Practice your evacuation route,” he explains. Include your entire family, even pets, in your practice evacuations to get used to using pet carriers, carrying backpacks, and testing your planned evacuation routes.

If you don’t have a car, talk to your neighbors, friends, and family about your options and find out what public transportation or other services may be available to help you.

Once you return home

Once local authorities have decided it’s safe to return home, you should still be careful, says Jiménez Dávila. “Then, just as you’re careful to wear gloves and sturdy shoes when you get home, your pets will need extra care.”

Hot spots or other hazards caused by wildfires may still be a concern. Your pets will be nervous, so make sure you keep a close eye on them and don’t let them wander off.

Three more important things to remember

If you’re not home when a wildfire starts or spreads in your area, make a plan to have a neighbor, friend, or relative watch your pets to make sure they’re okay, or evacuate with them if necessary. .

Cal Fire says if you must evacuate without your pets, keep them inside your home in a windowless room with good ventilation. Consider putting them in the bathroom, utility room, or garage (depending on the weather) and don’t close them.

Place dry food and water in unbreakable or spill-proof containers, and let the faucet slowly drip water into a larger container or tub for a longer water supply.

For more information, check out the following resources for protecting your pets in wildfire-prone areas: