
This week, Los Angeles and parts of Ventura County experienced extreme wind gusts combined with low humidity, which is a perfect storm for fire season. As of writing, the Palisades fire has burned over 23 thousand acres and is at 11% containment, and the Eaton fire has burned over 14 thousand acres and is at 15% containment. Many people have lost their homes, from celebrities to working-class people. This week, I want to list some suggestions for preparing for fires as a disabled person. If you know any disabled people in a fire evacuation warning who cannot evacuate alone, please reach out if you are able to do so.
Consider having accessible alarms. Flashing alarms can be helpful for D/deaf people, and beeping and vocal alarms can be accessible for blind or visually impaired people (US Fire Administration, n.d.) Accessible alarms can notify everyone promptly, allowing them to get out safely and grab essential items.
Keep an emergency mobility aid by the door or in the car, and regularly charge battery-operated aides. Having an extra mobility aid is easier for things like canes instead of larger and more expensive equipment compared to wheelchairs. Having a mobility aid that is easily accessible and charged can allow for earlier evacuation and more time to grab other essential items.
For those using a wheelchair or other mobility devices, make sure your evacuation plan does not depend on the fire department. However, working with the fire department during non-emergencies is a great way to share your evacuation needs and develop a plan that will ensure you can get out. If you rent or are in a care facility, the building owner is responsible for ensuring you are able to evacuate (Safety Info, n.d.). Living on the first floor with wide doors can help make evacuations more accessible.
Other preparations can include keeping food that can be cooked on a gas stove that does not need to be saved in a fridge or freezer that meets any diet restrictions you may have, using battery-operated lanterns during power outages, keeping important documents accessible, and following local evacuation orders. The Eaton fire has possibly destroyed water quality in certain areas, so having bottled water for emergencies is one way to maintain access to water.
Stay informed about fires with great online resources. When my family had reception, the app Watch Duty was the best way to keep up with the fires. As of now, it is still updating regularly. VC Scanner on Twitter was a great resource during the 2018 fires because the account could read radios and update quickly. Keeping up with news in whatever accessible way works for you can help keep everyone informed.
Thank you for reading about fire safety. I hope this information is accessible during an emergency. Please keep LA in mind, as whole communities are being burned down. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!
Sending prayers to all, but especially to those who are challenged with daily tasks even without a fire.