How to react in first critical minutes

In the event of a fire

Flee the minute calamity becomes imminent, and certainly if you are told to evacuate.

Take your disaster kit — and important documents — with you.

Back your car into an open space to load it, leaving it pointed in the direction you plan to head. While you load up, leave the car’s doors unlocked and the key in the ignition.

If the fire has hit your house before you’ve had time to escape, check the temperature of any doorknob you need to use before you open it. A hot knob means the flames are close on the other side of the door. Pick another exit.

If you have to flee through a room on fire, crawl so you will be below the smoke level. Throw on a heavy coat to protect against burning embers.

If you have time and winds aren’t high

Wet down the roof of your house with a garden hose. But emergency officials say don’t try to be a hero. They don’t want to waste valuable time they could be using to fight the fire to rescue you.

To reduce or slow the spread of fire, move combustible patio furniture inside, or at least to the other side of the house from where the fire is approaching. Flaming embers will have less to ignite.