Wildfire preparation often comes down to ordinary things: a clear space beside the house, a bag you can carry and someone who knows you might need a ride. A quieter afternoon is a good time to put those pieces together.
For households in Snohomish and Island counties, there is local help with the property work, free emergency-alert signups and straightforward guidance for planning a departure. Smoke preparation belongs on the list, too.
Ask for a free home assessment
Snohomish Conservation District offers free home ignition zone risk assessments. A trained staff member can identify vulnerabilities around a home and suggest improvements suited to the property.
The district lists priority spots for Arlington, Camano Island, Darrington, Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Marysville and Stanwood, among other communities. Its wildfire-resilience page has a Request Home Assessment link. You can also call 425-335-5634 to ask about the service and current availability.
This is a useful starting point if you are unsure which changes would make the biggest difference. Check the request page for appointment availability.
Start with the space closest to home
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends keeping the first 5 feet around a home clear of combustible material, including woodpiles, wood mulch and dead vegetation. Clear accumulated leaves and needles from gutters and beneath decks as well.
Those small spaces matter. The National Interagency Fire Center says embers and small flames cause most home ignitions during wildfires. It also recommends a visible address on the home and at the driveway entrance so responders can find the property.
For renters, a practical first step is to discuss shared landscaping, gutters and building work with the property owner or manager. Coordinate shared-space changes with the people responsible for those areas. For major pruning or other property-specific decisions, ask the assessment team for advice.
Set up the alerts for where you live
Bookmark the official signup page for your county:
- Snohomish County: SnoCoAlerts uses your address and ZIP code to tailor notifications. Check your contact methods if you have moved or changed phones.
- Camano Island and the rest of Island County: Island County emergency alerts can arrive by text, email or voice message. The county also offers the free myAlerts app and lets users add important locations.
Include alerts in the household conversation so everyone knows where emergency instructions will come from. Washington Emergency Management recommends local alert systems as a first source of crisis information, ahead of relying on social media.
Make the departure plan specific
Talk through where you would meet outside the neighborhood, alternative routes and the emergency plans at school, child care and work. Choose an out-of-area friend or relative who can relay messages, and write important numbers down. The state's household planning guide has a contact card you can fill in.
Decide who will drive and who could provide a backup ride. If someone needs assistance, discuss it with them and their support network now. Washington's access and functional needs guidance recommends backup transportation and making sure helpers know how to use mobility equipment.
Include pets and larger animals in the plan: who will move them, what supplies they need and where they could stay. The state's pet-preparedness guide can help with that part of the checklist.
Understand the three evacuation levels
Washington Emergency Management explains the levels this way:
- Level 1, Be Ready: A threat is in the area. Stay alert, review your plan and make sure neighbors know.
- Level 2, Get Set: Be ready to leave at a moment's notice. People with medical or mobility needs should consider leaving. Move livestock and large animals.
- Level 3, Go: Leave now. Follow emergency officials' instructions, even if you cannot see the danger.
Use the route officials direct you to take. Island County's wildfire-preparation handout also advises knowing two ways out and leaving when threatened rather than waiting for a notification. Check possible routes ahead of time; a route may be unavailable during a fire.
Pack a portable bag and build home supplies gradually
A bag by the door should be something you can carry or roll. Washington Emergency Management suggests using an old backpack, duffel or wheeled suitcase and preparing a bag for each household member, including pets.
Start with the essentials your household uses every day: medications, glasses, warm clothing and personal supplies. Add written contacts and keep copies of important documents secure and accessible. Consider mobility devices and other individual needs when deciding what has to leave with you.
Separately, the state recommends working toward two weeks of supplies at home for disruptions that leave you there. That includes food, water, pet food, medical and sanitation supplies. Build toward it a little at a time, using what you already have and adding items as the budget allows. The portable bag is for a quick departure.
Prepare for smoky days
A household smoke plan is useful even when a fire is far away. Keep our local air-quality maps guide handy for checking conditions.
The EPA recommends choosing a room where everyone can comfortably spend time, with doors and windows closed and exits easy to use. During smoke, reduce indoor particle sources such as candles, smoking and frying. If the home becomes too hot or smoky, have another place with cleaner, cooler air in mind. Follow evacuation instructions whenever they apply.
For filtration, choose a portable HEPA air cleaner suited to the whole room. The EPA's air-cleaner guide explains how to compare the smoke clean-air delivery rate, or CADR, with room size. Avoid devices that intentionally produce ozone. For a furnace or central heating and cooling system, check compatibility before upgrading to MERV 13 or higher filtration; ask a qualified technician if unsure.
If you must go outside in smoke, a properly fitting, NIOSH-approved N95 can reduce exposure to smoke particles. Follow the manufacturer's seal-check instructions; facial hair can interfere with the seal. NIOSH explains that these respirators filter particles, provide no oxygen and do not protect against gases or vapors. People with heart or lung conditions should ask their clinician about respirator use. Masks and respirators should never be put on children younger than 2.
People with heart or lung disease can also ask their clinician to help plan for smoky days, including medicines and symptoms that need attention. Keep that plan with the household's emergency information.
Sources checked Nov. 8, 2026. This guide draws on Snohomish Conservation District, Washington Emergency Management, the U.S. Fire Administration, National Interagency Fire Center, Snohomish and Island counties, EPA and CDC/NIOSH guidance linked above.
