Fire Evacuation Checklist From A Camp Fire Survivor

My NCKA family helped us after the 2018 Camp Fire, now we hope this valuable information might help somebody here.

After our family’s escape from the 2018 Camp Fire, we wanted to come up with a list of items in order of importance of the things I would grab if I could rewind time. 

With the recent wildfires burning in the state, it is my hope that this info might be found valuable to someone going through similar unsettling circumstances.

First of all, EVERYTHING IS REPLACEABLE EXCEPT YOUR FAMILY AND PETS!!!!!!

I would suggest you all plan on leaving in the same vehicle.  Preferably, a safe tough vehicle that will accommodate all of the following and has a full tank of gas and good ground clearance.  If you decide to take multiple vehicles, you will want a way to communicate between vehicles.  Cell phones might work but cell services could be overloaded by others.  If you have charged radios, take them or use one vehicle. 

Trust me!  The only thing worse than being in a fire is being separated in a fire!

Things to pack when you get the evacuation notice:
1.   Family / Pets and decide what vehicle to take with a full tank of gas.
2.   Wallet, Purse, Keys, Glasses
3.   Cell Phone and Charger
4.   Emergency Cash / Credit Card / Checkbook
5.   Clothes / Jackets – Yes I said Jacket – Adrenaline makes you cold.
6.   Medications / CPAP Machine / First Aid Kit
7.   Flashlight
8.   Water – You will get a very dry throat from the smoke and heat so you need to hydrate
9.   Snacks – you will need to eat something
10.   Important Documents – Deeds, Titles, Insurance Docs, Marriage License, Passports, SS Cards etc.

Next comes the things that CAN’T be replaced:
11.   Pictures, Pictures, Pictures (Family / Baby / Wedding)
12.   Digital Photos – they can be on phone, computer, back-up drives
13.   Home Videos
14.   Photo Albums / Scrapbooks
15.   Jewelry – Wedding Rings / Family Heirlooms
16.   Family History Records
17.   Computer / Laptops / Ipad – if you didn’t grab them before – you will need a laptop later
18.   Firearms – especially family heirlooms
19.   Toys – Have your kids pack their own bags with their favorite things
20.   Trinkets – Any item that is special to you
21.   Anything else you can think of if time allows …….

I hope none of you have to go through what our family has and that you find this list helpful and remember you can replace mostly everything EXCEPT FAMILY.

BE SAFE!!!!  And we pray nobody has to go through what we had too.

Much love!
The Freitas Family – 2018 Camp Fire Survivors

This is a good list with good priorities. Thank you for putting it together.

If it is something important don’t think that a “fire proof” safe will protect it. They won’t.

I can pretty much guarantee that the items in a fire safe will not survive a Wildfire.  A lot of the Fire safes in Paradise burned on the inside like an oven.  Remember the safes are lined with carpeted wood.  Also any firearm that cooked in the safe is useless.

This is a great point. Fire safes are designed for homes that will have a fire truck there within a few minutes, not a fire that burns a house to the ground.

Thanks for the list, I'll be adjusting my truck's drawer system to be more accommodating to a list like this.

Dig a hole, be ready to bury stuff at least a couple feet deep, you’re better off doing that than using a fire safe in a wildfire.

Dig a hole, be ready to bury stuff at least a couple feet deep, you’re better off doing that than using a fire safe in a wildfire.

In my opinion, this would be a better option.  You just better know the exact location cause when you return nothing will look the same.

Thank you for outlining this nosoupforu. This is very helpful during this chaotic time! Just got the evacuation warning this morning.

Thank you for outlining this nosoupforu. This is very helpful during this chaotic time! Just got the evacuation warning this morning.

I'm glad you found this helpful. 

If I can be any other help, hit me up.

Be safe!  Get out early!
Bret