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Wildfire Evacuation Planning

When a wildfire threatens, there may be only minutes to leave. A plan made in calm weather, with animals, papers and routes considered, makes leaving faster and safer.

Why does a farm need its own evacuation plan?

A farm is a home, a business and often an animal facility at once. Leaving means moving family members, workers, livestock, pets, records and sometimes equipment, and each takes time and planning. Roads may be busy with other evacuees and smoke can cut visibility.

Local fire officials and emergency management offices decide when evacuation is ordered. Learn how orders are issued where you live, since the terms and the alert systems vary by county. When an order comes, follow it, and do not wait to see the flames.

Write the plan on one page and post it in the house and the shop: who calls whom, where the family meets, which route is primary and which is backup, and who is responsible for each animal group. Share a copy with a neighbor you trust.

• Many things must move at once
• Roads may be crowded and smoky
• Orders vary by county and alert system

How do you sign up for alerts and stay informed?

Ask your county emergency management office how to register for emergency notifications, and what the levels of warning mean in your area. Keep a battery or hand-crank radio, and keep phones charged during fire season. Do not depend on a single method, since cell service and power can fail.

Check with your local fire department or state forestry agency for information about fire danger levels and current restrictions. Rules differ by place, and they change with conditions.

Practice the plan at least once each season. A short drill reveals problems such as a trailer that will not start, a gate that sticks or a route that smoke makes hard to follow.

What should be in a go bag and a records folder?

Prepare a bag for each person with essentials such as medications, glasses, chargers, a change of clothes and copies of important contact numbers. The American Red Cross publishes checklists you can adapt. Keep a folder of insurance papers, identification copies, farm records, animal records and a list of equipment, with photos, ready to grab or stored securely online.

Keep vehicles fueled during fire season, and keep keys where everyone knows. Decide who drives which vehicle and who rides with whom.

• Medications and a few days of supplies
• Insurance and identification copies
• Photos of buildings and equipment
• Contact list for family, workers and neighbors

What about livestock, pets and equipment?

Decide ahead of time where animals will go, how they will be moved and who will move them. Trailers need to be maintained and accessible, and animals should be used to loading. Ask your veterinarian, extension office and county animal response groups about evacuation options, because many communities have them.

Moving animals takes time that may not be available. Do not risk your life for property or livestock. Some officials recommend moving animals early when fire danger is high, so ask your local agency what guidance applies.

Identification matters. Ask your veterinarian or county animal response group what identification and records are recommended, and keep a current list of animals and their owners if you board or lease animals.

How can you reduce risk around buildings?

Defensible space guidance comes from fire agencies and extension services, and it depends on region, vegetation and building type. Ask your local fire department or state forestry agency for guidance rather than relying on general rules of thumb. NFPA also publishes wildfire preparedness resources.

Keep hay, fuel and equipment storage organized, and know where utilities shut off. Ask utilities and fire officials what you should and should not do before leaving.

Roads and bridges on your property should be wide and clear enough for emergency vehicles. Ask your local fire department to visit and tell you what they would need to reach you.

What should you do after returning?

Return only when officials say it is safe. Watch for hot spots, weakened trees, damaged power lines and structural damage. Smoke and ash may remain hazards, so see the article on wildfire smoke safety.

Photograph damage before cleaning and contact your insurer. Ask Farmers.gov and your local USDA service center about assistance, and your veterinarian about any animals that were affected. In an emergency, call 911.

Be patient with recovery. Stress after a fire is normal, and support is available through the 988 Lifeline and local health services. Talk with family and neighbors about how you are doing.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.