Wildfires, often intensified by strong winds and dry weather, are a recurring danger that can impact communities and travelers alike. The catastrophic loss of entire towns, as seen in places like Paradise, California, and Lahaina, Hawaii, shows how fast and completely these fires can destroy things. If you spend time or live in areas where wildfires happen, or where it gets very dry and windy, you should keep items in your car to survive wildfires.
Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases without any increase in price to you.
In this post
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. Since most of the time, people have to quickly evacuate in their vehicles, I began thinking how to equip my own car. 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
- Swim goggles
- 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
Tips
- Keep a physical map of the area in your car. GPS systems may not work during emergencies. DeLorme 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
It’s important for all passengers in the vehicle to remain calm and to wear a face mask. Even a wet bandana or shemagh tied around the nose and mouth is better than nothing. However, it’s even more critical that the driver be able to maintain their focus.
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.
A KN95 face mask helps protect your lungs from smoke inhalation, and they’re compact enough to fit just about anywhere. Respirator masks are bulkier, range in price from quite reasonable to costly, and most will not include eye protection. However, a pair of swim goggles or tightly fitting shooting-range goggles work very well for this purpose.
If the vehicle’s air circulation system begins to allow in too much smoke or fumes, you can close it down.
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.
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.
Here are several articles to help you prepare for assisting the more vulnerable in your life:
- Special Needs Preppers: Severe Disabilities
- Special Needs Preppers: Physical and Medical Challenges
- Special Needs Preppers: Severe Disabilities
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.
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
You’ve now equipped your vehicle with the essential items for wildfire survival. Keep in mind that each component of your kit—masks, goggles, tools, and so on—is designed to address specific challenges encountered during a wildfire evacuation. Regular checks and updates to your supplies are crucial, ensuring you’re consistently prepared for the unpredictable nature of these events while on the road.
Do you keep supplies in your car to survive wildfires?
Originally published on December 1, 2016; updated by The Survival Mom editors.
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.