Helpful Information
How to Deal with Smoke and Ash from Wildfires
When there is a wildfire, it creates a large amount of smoke and ash that is usually carried by the wind, as in the case of the recent Wallow Fire a the New Mexico-Arizona border where a large amount of smoke and ash were carried into New Mexico, Colorado, and the Dakotas.
When smoke and ash are brought in by the wind, recommendations are:
•Stay indoors.
•If you have to go outside keep a cloth or rag over your mouth to breath.
•Keeping domestic pets indoors is best for their health.
•Turn of swamp coolers. (heap-filters are suggested for use)
• Use indoor fans.
•Place a fan a the entrance of the coolest room in the house (usually a closet or pantry), face the fan so air flows out to the rest of the house.
•Treat roads covered in ash the same as you would a snow covered road.
• Treat smoke covered days with caution. (Drive slower, as visibility will most likely be low.)
Emergency Kits
Essential items recommended for your kit are as follows, per individual, which includes children and infants: (remember to multiply each item by the amount of household members.) (i.e. 2 parents, 3 children = x 5)
•3 day supply of drinking water (3 gallons per day)
•Non-perishable light weight food: beef jerky, sealed crackers, MREs
•1 change of clothes
•1 pair of shoes
•1 blanket or sleeping bag
•First aid kit that includes your family's prescription medications
• Emergency tools: flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries
•Extra set of car keys, cash, credit/debit cards, or traveler's checks
•Sanitation supplies: toilet paper, paper towel, sanitizer
•Special items needed for infants, elderly, or disabled family members
•Extra pair of prescription eye glasses
•Important family documents (keep in an airtight and waterproof container)
•Place a smaller size kit in your vehicle for travel.
Should an Emergency Situation Occur
PlPlapdkeri•Back your vehicle into the garage or an open space facing the direction of escape.
•Close garage doors and windows, leaving them unlocked.
•Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
•Confine pets to one room, and remember them in case an evacuation is called.
•Arrange for temporary housing with a relative or friend outside the threatened area.
In the Event of an Evacuation
•Evacuate Immediately!
•Wear protective clothing such as sturdy shoes, cotton clothes, long pants, long sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to protect your face.
•Take your emergency kit.
•Lock your home.
• Tell someone when you left, and your destination.
• Contact the Fire Department, Police Department, or Office of Emergency Management to find out which roads are being used for the evacuation and if there is a designated shelter available.
Create Your Family's Disaster Plan
•Contact the Office of Emergency Management to find out about hazards, warnings, how to prepare for hazards, or to volunteer.
• Plan how you will stay in contact should you become separated.
•Pick 2 meeting places
•Choose an Out-of-County/State friend.
•Place emergency telephone numbers by every phone, or in every cell phone.
•Make sure a responsible family member knows where and how to shut off the water, electric, and gas to the home.
•Learn First Aid and CPR
• First Aid and CPR classes are offered at the Acoma Fire Department, contact Shane Martinez for more information at (505)552-7500 x 333
In Case of Wildfires
•Identify your local outside water sources. (ponds, well, stream, pool, hydrant, cow tank)
•Maintain a yard hose that will reach around your home and to other structures on your property. (i. e. garage, well house, outhouse, barn, shed)
•Install freeze-proof outside water outlets, on at least 2 sides of your home.
•Install additional water outlets at least 50 feet from your home.
•Wet or remove brush or shrubs within 15 feet of your home.
•Gather Fire Tools: Shovel, rake, hoe, and pick.
•Consider obtaining a portable gas-powered water pump.
•Consider obtaining a portable gas-powered electric generator.