Wildland Action Guide

Prepare now, before a fire.

• Create and maintain defensible space around your home (see below).
• Plan at least two ways out of your property and neighborhood.
• Make a plan for pets and livestock: where they will go and how you will move them.
• Pack a Go Kit with the “Six P’s”: People & pets, Papers & important documents, Prescriptions & eyeglasses, Pictures & irreplaceable items, Personal computer / phone & chargers, Plastic (credit cards) & cash.
• Sign up for Sheridan County emergency alerts.

Fire is nearby. Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

• Put your Go Kit in your vehicle and park facing out.
• Move livestock and trailers early. They take the most time.
• If you need extra time or help to leave, go now.
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, sturdy boots, and gloves (cotton or wool, not synthetics).
• Stay tuned to alerts, local radio, and official updates. This may be the only notice you get.

Danger is current or imminent. Leave immediately.

• Leave right away. Do not wait for someone to knock on your door.
• Follow your planned route and directions from officials.
• Drive with headlights on and watch for fire crews and equipment.
• Do not return home until officials say it is safe.

0–5 feet · Most important

• Use noncombustible ground cover like gravel, rock, or concrete. No bark mulch.
• Clear leaves, needles, and debris from roofs, gutters, and decks.
• Cover vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh to keep embers out.
• Move firewood, propane cylinders, and anything flammable out of this zone, and nothing stored under decks.

5–30 feet

• Keep grass mowed short, under 4 inches.
• Remove “ladder fuels”: brush and low branches that let fire climb into trees.
• Prune tree branches 6–10 feet up from the ground.
• Space out trees and shrubs so fire can’t jump plant to plant.

30–100 feet

• The goal is to slow fire down and keep flames on the ground.
• Thin trees so the tops (crowns) don’t touch.
• Clear dead brush, downed trees, and heavy dry grass.
• Keep hay, fuel tanks, and equipment well away from the house.

• Choose fire-resistant roofing (Class A, like metal or asphalt shingle) when replacing.
• Screen or box in the areas under decks and porches.
• Keep gutters clean, or add metal gutter guards.
• Repair gaps in siding, soffits, and eaves where embers can lodge.

• Mow or graze fire breaks around barns, corrals, and hay storage.
• Store hay and fuel away from homes and other buildings.
• Clear dry vegetation from around propane tanks and fuel tanks.
• Know where your water sources are: stock tanks, ponds, and hydrants.

• Post your address where it’s visible from the road, day or night.
• Keep driveways and gates clear and wide enough for a fire engine.
• Trim branches that hang low over your driveway.
• Before any controlled burn, call dispatch at 307-672-2413.