Wildfires don’t give you much warning, and if you’re caught driving near one, what’s in your car could make a big difference. After watching a harrowing video of a driver escaping the Gatlinburg fires, I put together a list of 12 items worth keeping in your vehicle if you live in or travel through fire-prone areas. Respiratory protection and eye protection are at the top, but there’s more to it than that, including what to do if you have to get out of the car to clear the road.
The January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles, driven by Santa Ana winds that topped 100 mph, destroyed entire neighborhoods in hours. People had minutes to get out, not hours. One reader’s daughter escaped the Pacific Palisades fire with her son and two cats, driving the wrong way down a street lined with abandoned vehicles. That’s what wildfire evacuation actually looks like. If you live in or travel through fire-prone areas, what’s in your car when that moment comes is not a minor detail.
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In this post
- Wildfires can grow and spread…fast!
- 12 Essential Wildfire Survival Items to Keep In Your Car
- A Few Survival Tips
- The Dangers of Driving Through a Fire
- Exiting the Vehicle to Clear the Road
- Want More Useful Info From Survival Mom?
- FAQ
- Related Emergency Planning Content
- Get the Survival Mom’s Complete Evacuation Guide!
- Final Thoughts
Wildfires can grow and spread…fast!
I’m reminded of a video I watched once from the horrific wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Friends of mine owned a home there that was destroyed by wildfire, and many other friends and acquaintances enjoyed the area during family vacations.
This video vividly shows how quickly these fires grew as this man drives through them to safety. (Warning: Strong Language)
Wildfire safety is no easy matter, as I explain in this article.
With wildfires frequently in the news, most noticeably in Canada and the Western United States, it makes sense to consider them one of the disasters you should prepare for.
When is wildfire season?
The traditional answer is May through November, peaking in August, but the more accurate answer in 2025 is pretty much year-round, depending on where you live. The January 2025 Los Angeles fires happened in the middle of what used to be California’s “safe” season. Oklahoma and Florida see major fires in late winter and early spring. If you live in or travel through fire-prone areas, there’s no longer a reliable off-season. Keep your kit in the car year-round. Here’s my list of must-haves.
12 Essential Wildfire Survival Items to Keep In Your Car
- Eyewash/eye drops
- Battery-powered fan with extra batteries
- Face masks with eye protection
- Respirators
- Goggles — swim, ski, shooting — anything that provides a tight fit around your eyes
- Hatchet or ax
- Fire-resistant work gloves
- LED flashlights
- One or more headlamps so your hands are free
- Water
- All-purpose emergency kit
- Inhaler and asthma medication
A Few Survival Tips
- Keep a physical map of the area in your car. GPS systems may not work during emergencies. Paper atlases can help plan evacuations.
- Know how to manually open your car’s garage door in case of a power outage.
- Practice driving your evacuation route in advance, especially during different times of day.
The Dangers of Driving Through a Fire
Driving through a fire like this is very, very dangerous. Smoke and fumes can quickly fill a vehicle, and rubber tires can melt on the hot asphalt.
Protect Your Lungs and Eyes
Not all masks are equal, and the type of fire matters when you’re choosing which ones to carry in your car.
For wildfire smoke from burning vegetation, a properly fitted N95 or KN95 respirator filters at least 95% of the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that poses the greatest health risk. The key word is “fitted”. It must seal tightly against your face with no gaps. The 3M 8210 N95 and Moldex 2300 N95 (which includes an exhalation valve for easier breathing in heat) are both good choices for this.
However, when structures are burning, things like buildings and cars, that smoke is a different beast entirely. It contains toxic gases that N95 masks cannot filter. Burning plastics, asbestos in older homes, lead paint, and synthetic materials release chemical compounds that require a higher level of protection. For this scenario, a half-face respirator with P100/organic vapor combination filters, like the 3M 6500 Series with 2097 filters, is the better choice. It’s bulkier and more expensive, but it filters both particles and toxic gases.
Practically speaking, keep N95s in your car for smoke exposure on the go. If you live in an area near older homes or structures, consider keeping a half-face respirator in your emergency kit as well.
Just as flight attendants instruct parents to first put on their oxygen masks in case of an emergency, the driver of a vehicle must protect their own eyes and respiratory system, in particular.
For eye protection, any tight fitting goggles will work. Swim goggles fit very tightly over the eyes and are inexpensive, but if you wear glasses, goggles for shooting and skiing might be better choices.
Managing Heat Inside the Vehicle
While closing the air circulation system helps to block smoke and fumes, it also stops the air circulation. No surprise there, right? To reduce overheating, use a small battery-powered fan to move air around.
A battery-powered fan can help manage heat inside the vehicle when the air quality outside is manageable, but if you’re driving through active smoke or fire, running a fan just circulates smoke-filled air around the cabin.
The better strategy in heavy smoke is to close all vents, switch your vehicle’s air system to recirculate mode (the button that cycles interior air rather than drawing in outside air), and get through the area as quickly as possible. Save the fan for when you’ve cleared the smoke and need to cool down.
Pets can overheat, too. Using the flow of air and water to drink or squeezed with a cloth over an animal’s tongue, a pet has a better chance of surviving the scorching environment. Also, prepare a pet evacuation kit in advance.
Protect Vulnerable People
Finally, be aware that elderly people, those with chronic health issues, and very young children and babies will have the most difficulty breathing in conditions caused by a wildfire. Therefore, take time to ensure you have well-fitting facemasks for them.
They should spend some time wearing a face mask, even if it’s a simple dust/particulate mask, to get used to the sensation. Many people feel suffocated wearing something over their nose and mouth, so it can take some time.
Exiting the Vehicle to Clear the Road
At one point in the video, it appears the driver has to get out and move branches. Between eye protection, a respirator, heavy work gloves (this pair is also fire resistant), and a sharpened ax or hatchet, there’s a good chance this type of road clearing can be done quickly.
Fires invariably darken the sky and turn daylight into night. Therefore, a few LED flashlights are necessary and can be used to signal rescuers if necessary. At least one headlamp would allow you to use your hands and should also be included.
However, again, since the survival of the entire party depends on the driver’s health, the task of clearing a road may best be left in the hands of another able-bodied adult.
Also, remember additional dangers can come from the same direction the branches on the road came from –above your head.
If those branches fell, more could follow. Downed power lines are also a possibility.
Want More Useful Info From Survival Mom?
FAQ
When evacuating, gather essential documents like identification, insurance policies, and medical records. These items are crucial for proving identity and accessing necessary services. Quickly grab financial documents to ensure you can manage resources during displacement. Learn how to assemble a grab-and-go binder.
For real-time wildfire updates and evacuation orders, rely on local emergency alerts, official government websites, and reputable news sources. Download emergency alert apps and sign up for local notifications. While social media can be a source, always verify information with official channels.
Prepare your pets for evacuation by having carriers and essential supplies readily available.
Keep them calm during the process, and pre-identify pet-friendly shelters along your evacuation route. Microchipping your pets and ensuring they wear collars with up-to-date contact information is also crucial. Learn about staying in Red Cross Shelters.
Start with a standard vehicle emergency kit and supplement it with wildfire-specific items like respirators, eye protection, and fire-resistant gloves. Ensure you have ample water, non-perishable food, and a first-aid kit, and tailor the kit to your family’s unique needs.
I prefer to make my kit and assemble it from products I know are all high quality. Otherwise, well-equipped bags like this can be found online and in retail stores. Just be sure to check out all the items and add anything specific to your own family’s needs.
Immediately tune your radio to emergency broadcasts and activate emergency alert apps on your phone for real-time updates. Be prepared to change routes quickly based on changing wind direction and official instructions, prioritizing safety over your original destination.
While wildfires are often tracked, sudden shifts in weather, like strong winds, can create rapid, unpredictable spread, as seen in Paradise, CA. Develop multiple evacuation plans and stay constantly alert to changing conditions, even if you think you have ample warning.
Related Emergency Planning Content
- How to Protect Your Home Against Wildfires
- Create a Family Emergency Communication Plan
- Why You Need A Last Minute Packing List
- The Two Types of Emergency Evacuation Plans (And Why You Need Both)
Get the Survival Mom’s Complete Evacuation Guide!
Final Thoughts
Wildfires don’t give you much warning and they don’t wait while you figure out what to grab. The time to put this kit together is now, on a quiet afternoon when nothing is on fire and you can think clearly. Check your gear seasonally because masks degrade, batteries die, and water stored in a hot car needs rotating. If you live in or travel through fire-prone areas, this isn’t optional prep. It’s just practical.
Do you keep supplies in your car to survive wildfires?
Originally published on December 1, 2016.
This is a great list. As we evacuated in June due to the Erskine Creek wildfire in California, some of these items would have come in very handy had we left much later than we did. Hubby, dogs and I were able to leave our home before the evacuation notice was issued due to having go bags for all of us ready, and a prioritized checklist of “things to do/get”. Having those already done were invaluable in our rush to leave. For those who don’t live in fire prone areas, but go there occasionally, drive through these types of areas or go camping, this would also be a great list of items for them to have. Thanks!
It’s really bad in the Fraser Valley because of all the wildfires above us. I’m really having a hard time breathing – even in my house with the windows shut! What can I do to protect myself as soon as possible? I’m not able to purchase any supplies and would be grateful for any home remedies! I’ve got a wet bandana as a face mask and I’ve shut off the fan. They say it’s going to continue for at least a couple more days.
I’m sure it’s too late curre this time, but for future use, you can run your hvac system fan (switch fan to on instead of auto) to circulate and filter the air in your house. You can also scratch a furnace filter to a regular fan. Keep extra filters on hand.
Sorry for the typos! I meant ATTACH a furnace filter to a box fan to help clean indoor air.
Also, any suggestions for my big brown dog Lucky?
I am not suggesting you don’t leave the vehicle to clear the road, just remember where that branch came from, above you, there might be more coming down. There could be powerlines down on the road or hanging low. Animals, domestic and wild, loose on the road. Other drivers on the road, preoccupied with watching the fire rather than driving.
May I suggest one of these for your list? Car ionizer you plug in.
https://amzn.to/3bLa2j1
Thanks! I have a friend who uses one of these due to her son with some extreme allergies/asthma issues.
My daughter, her son and 2 cats just barely survived the Pacific Palisades fire of 2025 (January 7).
N95masks will NOT protect you from toxic smoke from fires that contain asbestos, toxic gasses from burning furniture, etc. You MUST get the kind with a breather in the middle…this from Firefighters who allowed people back into the fire zones to get possessions. The masks and suits were required.
To help protect your pets when escaping smoke and fire: put pets in a crate completely covered with a blanket that has been wetted down to help prevent smoke from getting in. This will also help your pets stay calmer because they can’t see what is happening.
I’m thinking a battery operated fan would not be a good idea because it will circulate the smoke filled and toxic air around….
Water soaked rags or cloths to cover eyes and mouths of people in the car except driver who should have the mask with respirator on. This will help keep most of the toxic smoke out. These should be over the top of masks, N95 in this case might be ok.
You should know ALL the possible routes out of your neighborhood. Well. Try to take the least travelled if you can, but make sure it’s direct and not in the direction of the fires path. My daughter had to drive the wrong way on a street where many had abandoned their vehicles to avoid the fire. (not as unsafe as you’d expect as everyone was going OUT not IN)
She literally had mere seconds to evacuate, even WITH warning. The fires were driven that fast due to SantaAna winds over 100mph and dry vegetation.
PLEASE! If you live in areas that see fires yearly, be proactive and have as much protection as possible. Smoke from wildfires in areas with lots of houses WILL have toxic smoke from asbestos of older homes, lead from lead paint, fumes from burning furniture that contain plastics, etc. Most people who die from fires die from the toxic smoke they inhale, NOT the actual fire. Remember 9-11.
If you don’t live in fire-hazzard areas, still carry items to help you go through it with few health issues later on. And don’t forget your pets! No outside riding in pickups!
About the battery fan: to clarify: NO vehicle is air tight. You should NOT try to cool off with fans as they will circulate the SMOKE that comes in and you really won’t be able to get that cool anyway. Just deal and get out as soon as possible, but please don’t use a fan; it will only assist in breathing in smoke filled air.
I just got a Tesla, and it comes with a “bioweapon defense mode”. It shuts down the interior of the car and filters the interior air.
Great point about the face masks. N95/KN95 are adequate protection for smoke from burning vegetation, but you’ll need a full respirator for structural fires that might have toxic contaminants.