Wildfire Evacuation Checklist: What to Pack and When to Leave

When a wildfire moves toward your community you may have hours to leave — or only minutes. Deciding what to take while smoke is already in the air is the worst time to make a plan. This checklist helps you prepare ahead, so leaving is quick and calm.

Pack a go bag before fire season

Keep one bag per person somewhere easy to grab, such as by the front door or in the car, and check it at the start of every fire season.

• Water and food for at least three days — about 4 litres (1 gallon) of water per person per day.
• N95 or FFP2 respirators to filter smoke.
• Medications, copies of prescriptions, and spare glasses or contact lenses.
• Phone chargers and a charged power bank.
• A flashlight, a battery or hand-crank radio, and spare batteries.
• A basic first-aid kit.
• A change of clothes, sturdy closed shoes, and cotton or wool layers.
• Cash, plus copies of IDs, insurance policies and other key documents — on paper or an encrypted drive.

Remember the six P's

If you have a few extra minutes, these are the things people most often wish they had taken:

1. People and pets — including pet food, leashes and carriers.
2. Papers — phone numbers and important documents.
3. Prescriptions — medicines, vitamins and eyeglasses.
4. Pictures — photos and irreplaceable keepsakes.
5. Personal computers — laptops and hard drives.
6. Plastic — credit and debit cards, and cash.

Get your home and car ready

If you have time before leaving

• Shut all windows and doors. Many fire agencies advise leaving them unlocked so crews can get in.
• Move flammable furniture and curtains away from windows, toward the centre of the room.
• Turn off gas at the meter and turn off pilot lights.
• Leave lights on so firefighters can see the house through heavy smoke.
• Bring in patio cushions and doormats, and move propane tanks away from the house.
• Connect garden hoses, but don't leave sprinklers running — they lower the water pressure firefighters need.

Keep your car ready

• Keep the fuel tank at least half full during fire season.
• Park facing the direction you'll drive out, with the go bags already inside.
• Keep the keys in the same place every day.
• Know at least two ways out of your neighbourhood in case one is blocked.

Leave early

Don't wait for a formal order if you feel unsafe. Roads clog quickly, smoke cuts visibility, and fires can move far faster than expected. Leaving early also keeps roads clear for fire crews. If you have children, pets, livestock or anyone who needs extra time, go at the first warning.

Make sure you know what your area's alerts mean — our guide to wildfire evacuation levels explains the difference between a warning and an order.