Wildfire go-bag checklist

Wildfire evacuations can come with very little warning, so the go-bag matters more here than the home kit. Smoke is the other threat: FEMA recommends N95 respirators, not cloth or surgical masks.

Before it happens

• Keep the go-bag packed and the car’s fuel tank full during fire season.
• Store documents in a fire-resistant bag or safe, and scans on an encrypted USB stick.
• Know two ways out of your neighbourhood.
• Leave when told to. Don’t wait to see the fire.

When it happens

• Leave as soon as you’re told to, or earlier if you feel unsafe. Roads can close quickly.
• If you’re trapped, call the emergency number and stay inside a building, away from outside walls, with doors and windows closed.
• For smoke: stay inside with windows and doors shut, run an air purifier with a HEPA filter in one room, and wear an N95/FFP2 respirator outside.

Afterwards

• Return only when the authorities say it is safe. Watch for hot spots and fallen power lines.
• Wear an N95/FFP2 respirator and gloves when cleaning up ash.

The kit

Start with the L1 kit (72 hours). For this hazard, these items matter most:

• Smoke alarm
• Respirator mask (FFP2 / N95)
• Go-bag backpack
• Fire-resistant document bag
• Encrypted USB stick with document scans
• Burn gel / burn ointment
• Dry-eye drops

Sources: Ready.gov (FEMA), US EPA. Last reviewed: October 2026.