US Wildfire Information
Wildfires and smoke are a reality for much of the western United States. As summer comes to an end and fall approaches, dry, windy conditions coupled with high temperatures set the stage for the spread of wildfires. Air quality suffers when smoke travels from fires into cities and other populated areas. If you live in fire country, it’s important to be prepared for evacuation and other impacts from fires in your area. This page has a growing list of resources that help you track and prepare for fires.
US Wildfire Resources
Wildfire Disaster Response Resources - Esri
County Evacuation Maps for western US
National Interagency Fire Center
Air Quality Information
FireSmoke Canada (also covers US)
US Wildfire Reports Map
State Wildfire Resources
SF Chronicle California Fire Map
How to Find Social Media Resources in your Area
Social media is an important tool for communicating local impacts of wildfires. Weather conditions influence fire behavior and spread almost immediately, making it difficult to provide immediate communication through official websites and traditional media outlets. As a result, some of the best resources available are Facebook pages and Twitter feeds from local authorities and media outlets. NOAA and the National Weather Service also have emergency alert systems that allow you to sign up and receive alerts. If you live in California and want to know about wildfires, the statewide and local CalFire units are among the best resources. If you live outside of California in a fire prone area, search Google to find out who is responsible for your region and follow their pages on social media. Follow the links for information on fires in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
Get Prepared
The most important thing you can do is prepare yourself for the worst case scenario ahead of time. Keep a list of things that you need to take if you have to evacuate and always have emergency supplies on hand in the event of a power outage or other emergency situation. This list from the National Weather Service can help you know what you need to prepare your emergency kit.
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