Each year, more than 100,000 wildfires burn millions of acres and damage hundreds of homes and businesses in the United States. Because your trucking business is located in an area prone to wildfires, we've prepared the following precautions:
Preparing for a wildfire
- Park power units, trailers, etc. in storage yards, allowing 50 feet of clear space between equipment and nearby vegetation
- Minimize vegetation and outside storage of combustible materials within a 50-foot radius of buildings
- Keep roofs and gutters clear of leaves, tree limbs, pine needles and other debris
- Keep emergency supplies on-hand including flashlights, battery-powered TVs and radios, extra batteries, first-aid kits, water and non-perishable food
- Train employees on fire prevention and protection and practice implementing your emergency response plan
- Develop and document a plan for moving power units, trailers, cargo, etc. to safe locations if the need arises
- Coordinate your business's emergency procedures with local emergency response organizations and community officials
- Clearly mark your address, street and number on driveway entrances and buildings to assist in firefighting efforts
When a wildfire strikes (if time permits and it is safe to do so)
- Seal air ventilation vents
- Turn off natural and/or propane gas and pilot lights
- Close all doors and windows
- Close window coverings and move combustible materials and objects away from walls and toward the center of the building
- Disconnect equipment from power sources to avoid damage from power surges
- Move power units, trailers, cargo, etc. to safe locations
- Use hoses or sprinklers to wet roofs, walls and nearby vegetation
- Remove essential business records
After a wildfire
- Do not return to your business until local authorities indicate it is safe
- Stay clear of any downed electrical lines
- Check all areas of your building for evidence of fire damage
Source: Sentry Insurance