Knowledge is your best defense against a wildfire—and this information could save your life
It’s not your imagination: Wildfires have become more prevalent in recent years, so how to survive a wildfire is a question on everyone’s mind. As of early September 2025, the United States has seen 47,413 wildfires, which have burned more than 4 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). In 2024, there were 64,897 total wildfires, which was up from 56,580 in 2023.
That means that if things continue at the same rate, the U.S. will see more wildfires this year than last! Wildfires spread fast, and they can happen anywhere. That’s why it’s so important to focus on wildfire safety no matter where you live. But what is a wildfire? Does it have a specific definition? And most important, how can you protect yourself and your home?
Reader’s Digest spoke to Ivan O’Neill, a wildfire mitigation specialist and co-founder of Madronus Wildfire Defense, and Nikole Pearson, founder and president of Peak Science Communications, to learn everything there is to know about wildfire safety. Keep reading for their wildfire safety tips, and stay safe out there.
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What is a wildfire?
A wildfire is an unplanned fire that burns out of control in an area of combustible vegetation. It is also sometimes called a rural fire, bushfire or forest fire. And while childhood memories of Smokey the Bear may make you think about wildfires raging in a forest, that’s not always the case.
“A wildfire can happen in any type of landscape,” O’Neill says. “Grassland wildfires can often be very destructive because dry grasses flash burn and spread fire across a large distance quickly, as we saw in the 2021 Marshall Fire in Boulder County, Colorado, that destroyed over 1,000 structures.”
Wildfires shouldn’t be confused with prescribed fires, which are planned and intentionally ignited. Prescribed fires are set and controlled by federal or state land managers with the goal of reestablishing the natural balance in fire-dependent ecosystems. “A wildland fire is an overarching term that includes both prescribed fire and wildfire,” Pearson says.
What causes a wildfire?
In short, anything that causes a spark. And while some wildfires are started intentionally, the majority are accidental.
“Ignitions come from many sources, like an overheated car pulling into a grass field, loose trailer chains sparking when they strike the road, campfires, unsafe chimneys or someone mowing their field on a hot, dry day,” O’Neill says. Wildfires can also be caused by lightning strikes or wind that knocks down power lines, both of which can set off uncontrollable blazes.
O’Neill says wildfires tend to be more dangerous when vegetation is dry, relative humidity is below 20%, temperatures are in the 50- to 70-degree range and winds are above 15 to 20 mph. The Dragon Bravo fire in northern Arizona, which was sparked by lightning in July 2025, is an example of a wildfire that was exacerbated by high winds and low humidity, according to NBC News. As of September 2025, that fire has burned more than 145,000 acres and is 80% contained.
Climate change also contributes to increased wildfire prevalence, since our warming earth causes drier conditions and provides the perfect environment for a wildfire, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Wildfires are a particular risk in areas that are drier than usual.
How to survive a wildfire
Preparation is key to knowing how to survive a wildfire. First, it’s crucial to understand how wildfires operate.
“Many think wildfires destroy homes because a wall of flames moves across the landscape,” O’Neill says. “Actually, it’s millions of tiny embers being cast up to 2 miles ahead of the flame front, blown by wind, and the heat energy of the fire finding its way into nooks, crannies and things we all have around our homes and businesses that destroys most of them.”
With that reality in mind, it’s important to protect your home and family before a fire reaches you. Here’s what to do:
Build defensible spaces
A defensible space is a buffer between your home and the grass, trees and bushes surrounding it. Because a wildfire feeds off dry vegetation, this space is key to keeping flames away from your home. Yes, that means you may want to get rid of the plants directly next to your house, especially if you’re in a wildfire prone area.
“Many of us have bark mulch and herbaceous shrubs right next to the home, but these can often ignite,” O’Neill says. Remove them entirely or replace them with rocks, pavers or short, herbaceous plants that are well irrigated (think succulents, cacti or yuccas). Stay away from overly fragrant plants, since they tend to burn more easily.
Harden your home
Home hardening refers to specific construction choices that reduce the vulnerability of your home to embers, heat and fire. If building new, use nonflammable building materials, such as concrete, stucco and brick, instead of wood and wood framing. For your current home:
- Replace single-pane windows, especially those facing prevailing and reverse-prevailing wind directions, with double-paned windows. Make sure at least one pane is made from tempered glass (though two is better).
- Install weather stripping around all doors and garage doors. Eliminate gaps larger than 1/8 inch so that embers can’t enter your home.
- Patch or cover any holes in siding, doors or garage doors. If you can see light when looking from the inside, embers can get in.
- Install a home-fire sprinkler system, or install sprinklers around your home.
“Most homes need $10,000 to $20,000 in home-hardening upgrades and defensive space work to mitigate wildfire risk,” O’Neill says. But this type of home-improvement project is worth it: Research shows that these upgrades reduce a home’s chance of being destroyed in a wildfire by up to 75%.
Download emergency apps
Don’t rely solely on emergency alert systems to know when it’s time to flee. “Local officials must notify this national system [for it to interrupt your TV or radio],” says Pearson. “And, as is often the case between local and federal governments, communication breakdown happens often and quickly.”
Instead, download the Red Cross emergency app, which sends alerts that are critical to your specific location (namely, when to evacuate and where to), while the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s FEMA app provides a list of local shelters and other emergency preparation info.
Create an evacuation plan
“Knowing when to leave and being able to go quickly is crucial during an evacuation scenario,” Pearson says. First, set a meetup destination for all family members. Then “plan your primary and alternative evacuation route, and assemble emergency supplies and store them where you can get to them quickly.”
Practice your evacuation plan well in advance of a fire, especially if you have kids. What should go in your wildfire emergency supply kit? Here’s what the experts at Cal Fire recommend:
- Three days’ worth of nonperishable food and three gallons of water per person
- Map marked with at least two evacuation routes
- Required medications and prescriptions
- Change of clothing, extra glasses and contact lenses if you wear them
- Credit cards, cash and an extra set of car keys
- First-aid kit and sanitation supplies
- Flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries
- Copies of important documents
- Chargers for devices
- Pet food and water
Other helpful items include face masks, leather gloves and 100% cotton coveralls or blankets to protect against flying embers. And make sure to have sturdy shoes ready to go! Once you have the basics covered, and only if time allows, grab easily carried valuables, sentimental family photos and personal computer information on hard drives and disks.
You can buy an emergency go-bag and customize it, or assemble everything yourself. The key is to have it fully packed and ready to go so you don’t have to worry about it in an emergency.
Remove fire hazards around your home
“Clear the area immediately around your home of all fuels, plants and hazards (0 to 5 feet), including wood piles, fuel storage tanks, grills, furniture and flammable doormats,” O’Neill says. Wood fences are also risky, since they can catch fire when debris and embers are blown against them. O’Neill suggests replacing wood fence sections within 6 to 10 feet of your home with stone or metal.
Clear the space underneath decks, and screen them in if they’re less than two feet high.
Clean up dead leaves and vegetation
Dry, dead leaves, as well as pine needles and dry grass, are extremely flammable. Remove all dead or dying vegetation within 100 feet of your home (prioritizing the first 5 feet), and get rid of the old leaves and debris promptly. Avoid storing them next to the woodpile, house or garage, even if they’re bagged.
One way to make sure leaves don’t pile up is to rake according to your town’s leaf-pickup schedule. Most municipalities have several leaf-designated pickups per season.
Get rid of dead tree limbs
Dead, dry tree limbs can ignite and catch fire quickly. If you have any limbs hanging from trees, laying in your yard or perched on your roof, get rid of them ASAP. The same rule applies for disposing of dead tree limbs as it does for leaves: Do not store them close to your house or other structure.
More tree tips: Remove tree limbs up to at least 6 feet (10 to 15 feet is better) or one-third the height of the tree if it’s small. Space trees so there’s at least 15 feet between canopies. However, if you’re on a slope that’s more than 40%, increase the distance between canopies to 30 feet.
Invest in fire-rated vents
O’Neill advises replacing or covering all vents, including the crawl space, attic and roof vents, with fire-rated versions. “Or screen them in with at least 1/8-inch wire mesh,” he says, though he notes that 1/16-inch wire mesh is better.
“Enclosed eaves protect vulnerable rafters from wind-blown embers getting into the attic space, and prevent any heat rising from burning materials below them from getting trapped in the eaves and igniting the roof deck from below.”
Protect combustible siding
Have at least 6 inches of vertical clearance between any combustible siding—including wood, plywood, vinyl or other plastics—and the ground. “This is so that embers and debris blown against a structure during a wildfire don’t smolder and ignite your siding,” O’Neill explains.
You can replace the lower 6 inches of siding with a noncombustible product like fiber cement, or install galvanized metal flashing.
Install metal gutters
Replace vinyl or plastic gutters, which can easily catch fire, with metal gutters. Gutter covers, which keep gutters running free and clear, can also protect your home during a wildfire.
“Install metal gutter covers to reduce leaf litter and windblown debris,” says O’Neill. “This will ensure that embers don’t ignite in them and spread fire to your home.”
What to do if there’s a wildfire in your area
Knowing how to survive a wildfire comes down to planning and being prepared. According to the Red Cross, if there’s a wildfire in your area, it’s important to follow the advice of your local authorities, but “when in doubt, get out.” Download or verify that you have access to your emergency alert apps, and pay attention to the weather and the fire’s spread.
Have your go-bag ready, and make sure your phone is charged and the ringer is on. Think about contingencies, including any extra time you may need due to your family’s specific circumstances (like pets, wheelchair use or medical needs). Gas up your car and be ready to go when told to do so.
Inform a family member or friend outside of the fire zone of your plans, so they can inform others and you can focus on your family’s safety. Finally, remember that you may not get an alert if communication systems go down or the situation on the ground changes. You need to take the initiative to protect yourself, according to the Red Cross, so pay attention to your surroundings and be ready.
Can wildfires be prevented?
Yes and no. The overwhelming majority of wildfires in the U.S.—as many as 85%—are caused by people, according to the National Park Service. It is essential for people to be aware of how their actions could start a fire, whether that’s leaving a campfire unattended or improperly discarding a cigarette. Other human causes are out of our control, such as equipment malfunctions.
And then there are the nonhuman wildfire causes. That’s why O’Neill says the main focus of wildfire prevention should be mitigation. “Ignitions cannot really be prevented, though it’s important to raise awareness and minimize them,” O’Neill says. “Wildfires [also] cannot really be prevented, but they can be made less severe and destructive.”
O’Neill says one key way to do that is by using low-intensity fires to reduce fuel (aka vegetation). This also helps the ecosystem. “Most forests in the United States are fire-adapted, meaning that trees and plant communities evolved with regular fires, mostly lit by Native Americans every one to 15 years,” O’Neill says. “In California, the largest trees on the planet—sequoias—need fire to open their cones so their seeds can germinate.”
But this technique was phased out in the 1930s by the U.S. Forest Service. Trees now grow wild and are more densely packed. “This stresses them, especially in times of drought, and leads to bark beetle outbreaks that kill trees and create lots of dry tinder on the landscape,” O’Neill says. “As low-severity fire was removed from the landscape, more trees and shrubs survived that would have been thinned naturally by the flames. This leads to more fuel in our forests today than historically.”
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Sources:
- Ivan O’Neill, co-founder of Madronus Wildfire Defense, an NFPA-certified wildfire mitigation specialist and an NWCG Wildland Firefighter Type 2; interviewed, 2023
- Nikole Pearson, founder and president of Peak Science Communications; interviewed, 2023
- National Interagency Fire Center: “Statistics”
- National Park Service: “Wildfires, Prescribed Fires, and Fuels”
- InciWeb: “Dragon Bravo Fire”
- Red Cross: “Wildfire Safety”
- Cal Fire: “Defensible Space”
- Cal Fire: “Create Your ‘Go-Bag'”
- FEMA: “FEMA Mobile Products”
- Red Cross: “Emergency App”
- National Park Service: “Wildfire Causes and Evaluations”
