Make sure your yard is mowed low. Even in residential areas, high winds can push a grass fire to fences, fire wood, trash cans or anything stored next to your house. Move all combustibles away from any structures. Materials can be next to a brick wall, those materials can catch fire and ignite the eave. If you are upwind from a certain fire storm, evacuation is your best idea.

If you are upwind from a certain fire storm, evacuation is your best idea.

I believe you meant downwind as being upwind means the fire is moving away from your position.

Mike, thanks for the reminder. Husband always keeps hoses handy even in the winter in case of a grass fire. He says he'd rather replaces hoses than a house and we are some distance from a fire department and have cedars lining the property.

Make sure you have abided by the recommendations of the Forestry Dept about how to clear your property to minimize fire dangers. As far as I am concerned if the homeowner is too lazy/stupid/indolent to clear their property the FD should let it burn and save the neighbor who took the proper precautions.

You'll have to excuse me GT, I am admittedly directionally dyslexic.

Most of the cedars are on the neighbor's property but I do have a few on my side that the dogs love to chase bunnies through. I probably should get rid of them but they love them and they offer a windbreak. We also have an evergreen right under the eaves of the house that we need to trim way back (again). I think it was originally planted as a bush by someone with no ability to think ahead. Need to just yank it out.