Like many Angelenos, the second week of the new year found my family and me watching the horrific unfolding of wildfires in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena communities on the news and social media. We know families who lost everything. We reached out, offered support, made donations and prayed for the safety of our first responders and for our city. 

Then, on the afternoon of Jan. 9, we noticed a large cloud of smoke hovering over our own backyard in Woodland Hills. It grew by the minute. Neighbors gathered to alert and comfort each other. Then came the sirens from every direction, followed by water-dropping helicopters.

Within 45 minutes of seeing the smoke, our cell phones screeched with text messages declaring immediate evacuation orders. We knew we had to leave. We live by beautiful canyons and open parkland space — just the right environment for wildfires to take off. 

But we were not prepared. What do we take? My 94-year-old disabled father lives with us. Moving him safely out of the house became my priority. My husband grabbed passports, our work computers and checkbooks. I grabbed the wheelchair and the commode chair. I threw some clothes for my dad in a backpack and a couple of shirts and leggings in a Trader Joe’s bag for myself. I also grabbed a box of old photos that are not backed up digitally, my mom’s and grandmother’s wedding rings and a folder with all the notes and cards my daughters had given me through the years. In a matter of minutes, we headed out, grateful to be able to leave. 

As I was pulling out of the driveway, I turned to my husband and said, “I think we’re supposed to move the propane tanks from our barbeque grill away from the house … Wait, and are we supposed tot turn off our gas?” 

Thanks to our vigorous firefighters, the Kenneth Fire was contained quickly, and we were able to come back safely to our house at night. 

Having to evacuate quickly is scary. Being prepared, especially with young children, elderly parents or anyone with a disability, will help ease some of the panic. 

Cal Fire has a “go-bag” checklist for an easy to access emergency supply kit: 

• A 3-day supply of non-perishable food & 3 gallons of water per person

• A map with at least 2 evacuation routes

• Necessary prescriptions or medications

• A change of clothes & extra eyeglasses/contact lenses

• Extra car keys, credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks

• A first aid kit & sanitation supplies

• A flashlight & battery-powered radio with extra batteries

• Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)

• Pet food & water

If you have a little more time to pack, Cal Fire recommends the following items:

• Valuables that are easy to carry

• Family photos and irreplaceable items

• Personal computer data on hard drives and disks

• Chargers for cell phones and laptops

Protecting your home

Cal Fire also recommends the following to protect your home if you have time before evacuating:

What to do inside your house:

• Close all windows and doors but leave them unlocked.

• Take down flammable window treatments like shades and curtains, and close metal shutters.

• Clear away light curtains.

• Move anything that burns easily to the middle of rooms, away from windows and doors.

• Turn off the gas at the meter and pilot lights.

• Leave lights on for firefighters to see your house in smoke.

• Switch off the air conditioning.

What to do outside your house:

• Bring in flammable items from outside, including patio furniture, toys, doormats and trash bins. Alternatively, place them in your pool.

• Shut off propane tanks.

• Move grills and other propane BBQ appliances away from the house.

• Attach garden hoses to outside taps for firefighter use and fill buckets with water to scatter around.

• Don’t leave sprinklers or water running as it can lower critical water pressure.

• Keep exterior lights on to make your home visible in smoky or dark conditions.

• Put your emergency kit in your car.

• Park your car in the driveway, facing outwards, loaded and ready, with all doors and windows shut.

• Have a ladder handy for firefighter roof access.

• Seal attic and ground vents with plywood or commercial seals.

• Keep an eye on the fire situation and don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel at risk.

• Check with neighbors to ensure they’re also prepared.