A clear plan when it's time to go.
Not next week. Not tomorrow. Today. In 15 minutes. Would you know what to grab first?
Evac Ready
Would your important documents be easy to find?
Would everyone in your family have what they need?
Would your pets be ready to go?
Most families don't have all those answers figured out.
And that's okay; it's why I created the Wildfire Evacuation Checklist.
Not because people should live in fear. But because I've learned that having a plan creates calm when situations change quickly.
Bio section
This isn't a survival guide.
It isn't a prepper manual.
It's a practical planning tool for real families living in wildfire country.
It helps you answer questions like:
What goes in each person's go-bag?
What documents should we keep together?
What needs to be packed first?
What will the kids need?
What about the pets?
Should I have a go-bag in my car?
Because that's the reality many families face.
The goal is simple:
When it's time to leave, you're not starting from scratch.
You've already thought it through.
You've already made the decisions.
You already know what to grab.
Bio section
Created By:
Fire Wife
Mother of a Wildland Firefighter
Sister to a Forest Leader
Southern Oregon Resident
I live in Southern Oregon, nestled in fire country.
Wildfire has always been part of life here, but my family lives it every day.
My husband is a wildland fire crew boss. My son is a wildland firefighter. My brother works in forest leadership.
Every fire season, they watch families leave their homes.
And the thing I've learned from listening to their stories is this:
People don't struggle because they don't care.
They struggle because everything happens at once.
Kids are scared.
Phones are ringing.
Dogs are stressed.
Smoke is in the air.
People are trying to think clearly while making a hundred decisions at the same time.
Having a plan ahead of time doesn't make those moments easy.
But it helps.
📍 Jackson County, Oregon 📍 Almeda Fire
A few years ago, my daughter was at her dad's house when the Almeda Fire started.
At first, nobody was worried. The fire wasn't close. Everything seemed normal.
Then things changed.
Fast.
Suddenly they had about fifteen minutes to leave.
Two adults.
Two kids.
Two dogs.
No go-bags.
No plan.
Just fifteen minutes to decide what mattered most.
Thankfully, their house survived.
But they weren't allowed back for more than two weeks.
For fourteen days, they lived in a motel with whatever they managed to throw into the car.
And that's when the little things started to matter.
The dogs couldn't be boarded because they didn't have their vaccination records with them.
Normally that wouldn't have been a huge problem.
Except their veterinary clinic had burned down in the fire.
Suddenly, something as simple as proving the dogs' vaccinations became incredibly difficult.
Then there was the cat, Joe.
When it was time to leave, he found the best hiding place he could.
They had to leave without him.
(Don't worry. Joe was fine.)
Those are the kinds of things people don't think about when they imagine evacuation.
Not because they're careless.
Because life is busy, and most of us assume we'll have more time than we do.
That's one of the reasons I created this kit.
Not because a checklist can prevent every problem.
But because thinking through these details before an emergency can make an incredibly stressful situation a little more manageable.
Know exactly what to pack without overpacking or forgetting essentials.
Make sure your children have what they'll need if you're away from home for several days.
Food, medications, vaccination records, leashes, carriers, comfort items, and more.
Because wildfires don't always happen when you're at home.
A quick-reference guide for those moments when time is limited and decisions need to be made fast.
Simple preparedness strategies, common mistakes families make, and practical ways to get organized without feeling overwhelmed.
To help your family feel a little more prepared, a little less stressed, and a lot more confident if evacuation ever becomes necessary.
When stress levels rise, even simple tasks take longer than you think.
That's what this kit is really about: reducing the number of decisions you have to make when emotions are high and time is short.
That's a fair question. There are plenty of free evacuation checklists online. And honestly, that's a good thing. Anything that helps families get prepared has value. What makes this kit different isn't that it contains information you can't find elsewhere. It's that everything is organized into one practical system. Instead of downloading multiple checklists, printing pages from different websites, and trying to piece together your own plan, you'll have one place to organize your family's evacuation strategy. Simple. Practical. Easy to use. Most importantly, it helps you move from: "We should really get prepared." to "We have a plan." And if this kit helps you avoid one forgotten medication, one missing document, one escaped dog, one hidden cat, or one last-minute scramble while your kids are scared and asking questions, then it has done its job. Ready to feel more prepared this wildfire season?
I hope you never need this kit.
Truly.
My hope is that it sits in a drawer for years and never gets used.
That would be the best possible outcome.
But if the day comes when evacuation orders are issued and everybody is trying to figure out what to do next, you'll be glad you took the time to prepare beforehand.
Because when smoke is in the air and time is short, that's not the moment you want to be making a plan.
FAQ section
You've got questions. I've got answers.
A basic wildfire go-bag should include water, non-perishable food, medications, chargers, important documents, clothing, hygiene supplies, and pet supplies if applicable.
The Wildfire Evacuation Kit includes detailed go-bag checklists for adults, children, and pets so you don't have to figure it out yourself.
Wildfires don't always happen when you're at home.
You may be at work, picking up kids, running errands, traveling, or commuting when conditions change.
That's why I recommend keeping a small wildfire season vehicle kit in your car.
Consider including:
✔ Drinking water
✔ Non-perishable snacks
✔ Phone charger and charging cable
✔ Portable battery bank
✔ First aid kit
✔ Flashlight
✔ N95 masks
✔ Emergency contacts
✔ Paper map of your area
✔ Basic medications
✔ Extra leash and collapsible water bowl for pets
✔ Change of clothes and sturdy shoes
It's also a good idea to keep your gas tank at least half full during wildfire season whenever possible.
The Wildfire Evacuation Kit™ includes a Vehicle Readiness Checklist to help you prepare your vehicle before you need it.
Because sometimes the challenge isn't evacuating from home.
Sometimes it's getting home—or getting to your family—when conditions change unexpectedly.
Every situation is different.
Some families receive hours of notice.
Others have only minutes.
That's why emergency preparedness experts encourage people to prepare before wildfire season and have go-bags ready before they need them.
The goal isn't to predict what will happen.
The goal is to be ready if it does.
Important documents may include:
✔ Driver's licenses or identification
✔ Insurance policies
✔ Medical information
✔ Birth certificates
✔ Social Security Cards
✔ Passports
✔ Property records
✔ Emergency contacts
✔ Financial information
✔ Pet vaccination records
One lesson our family learned during the Alameda Fire was just how important pet records can be. The dogs couldn't be boarded because their vaccination records weren't available—and their veterinary clinic had burned down in the fire.
The kit includes pages to help you organize these important documents before you need them.
Bring your pets with you whenever possible.
Don't wait until the last minute to secure them.
If evacuation seems likely:
✔ Put dogs on leashes early
✔ Get cats into carriers early
✔ Gather pet food and medications
✔ Bring vaccination records
✔ Make sure pets have identification
Many families underestimate how stressed pets become during emergencies.
And if you've ever owned a cat, you know they have a remarkable ability to disappear when the house suddenly becomes chaotic.
A common recommendation is to plan for at least one gallon of water per person per day.
Your go-bag should ideally contain enough supplies to support you for at least 72 hours away from home.
Don't forget to plan for pets as well.
Many communities use a three-level evacuation system:
Stay informed and prepare to leave if conditions worsen.
Be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.
Leave immediately.
Do not delay gathering additional belongings.
If a Level 3 evacuation is issued, your priority is getting yourself, your family, and your pets to safety.
This is more common than many people realize.
Even if your home survives, road closures, utility outages, damaged infrastructure, or evacuation orders may prevent you from returning for days or even weeks.
My daughter's family experienced this firsthand during the Alameda Fire.
Their house survived.
But they weren't allowed back for more than two weeks.
Preparing for an evacuation isn't only about what you'll need during the drive away.
It's also about thinking through what you'll need if you're away from home longer than expected.
This is more common than many people realize.
Even if your home survives, road closures, utility outages, damaged infrastructure, or evacuation orders may prevent you from returning for days or even weeks.
My daughter's family experienced this firsthand during the Alameda Fire.
Their house survived.
But they weren't allowed back for more than two weeks.
Preparing for an evacuation isn't only about what you'll need during the drive away.
It's also about thinking through what you'll need if you're away from home longer than expected.
No.
While the kit was created in Southern Oregon and inspired by real wildfire experiences, the planning system works for families throughout wildfire-prone areas, including California, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, and beyond.
If wildfire is a possibility where you live, this kit can help you prepare.
Absolutely.
There are many excellent free resources available, and anything that helps families get prepared has value.
What makes this kit different isn't that it contains information you can't find elsewhere.
It's that everything is organized into one practical system.
Instead of downloading multiple checklists and trying to piece together a plan yourself, you'll have one place to organize your family's evacuation strategy, go-bags, pet information, emergency contacts, medications, vehicle readiness, and priority items.
The goal isn't more information.
The goal is having a plan.
Most families can work through the entire kit in an evening.
You don't need to finish everything perfectly.
Even taking one evening to organize your documents, build a basic go-bag, and identify your priority items puts you in a much better position than starting from scratch during an evacuation.
Honestly?
That's the outcome I'm hoping for.
My hope is that this kit sits in a drawer for years and never gets used.
That would mean you never had to evacuate.
But if the day comes when smoke is in the air, your phone is buzzing with alerts, and you need to leave quickly, you'll be glad you took the time to prepare ahead of time.
That's what this kit is really about:
Creating a little more calm when things feel anything but calm.
The Wildfire Evacuation Kit is a digital download.
You'll receive immediate access after purchase and can print the pages as many times as you'd like for personal use.
A fillable version is also available so you can complete the forms electronically and update them whenever needed.