When Every Minute Counts: Wildfire Evacuation & Safety Workshop

pineforestfirewise
Jul 22
2 min read

When Every Minute Counts: Wildfire Evacuation & Safety Workshop

Your best wildfire survival strategy is simple: leave early. But what if circumstances change and evacuation is no longer possible?

Join us for an important community workshop that explores both Plan A—Evacuate Early and the difficult but important question of Plan B—What if you can't?

This educational program is based on guidance from the National Fire Academy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and lessons learned from recent California wildfires. Together, we'll discuss how wildfire behavior influences evacuation decisions, how to prepare before an emergency, and what research tells us about surviving the rare situations where people become trapped by fire.

Workshop Agenda

Understanding Fire Behavior & Plan A: Leave Early

How wildfire behavior and weather can rapidly change conditions
The primary wildfire pathways into the Truckee area
Why early evacuation saves lives
Safe separation distances and why some locations are more dangerous than they appear

Plan B: What If You Can't Get Out? Presented by JoAnn Fites Kaufman, with participation from Truckee Fire and CAL FIRE.

This session explores:

The four types of temporary refuge areas identified through national research
How fire behavior affects the relative safety of different locations
What to do if you're caught while driving
How to recognize places that may provide better protection if no designated refuge area is available
Real-world examples relevant to the Truckee region

Questions & Community Discussion We'll conclude with an open discussion, allowing plenty of time for questions and conversation with the presenters.

Community Updates

Truckee Fire update
Eastern Regional Firewise Coalition update

Date: August 4, 2026 Time: 5:30 - 7:00pm Location: Northwoods Clubhouse, Tahoe Donner 11509 Northwoods Blvd.

RSVP to save this event on your calendar or join via zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ydrZGApMTfKJQSs_Z2POig#/registration

This workshop is not about creating fear—it's about replacing uncertainty with knowledge. Understanding how wildfire behaves and knowing your options before an emergency can help you make better decisions when every minute counts.

We encourage everyone in our Firewise community to attend and invite your neighbors.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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22211 Tamarack St,

Floriston CÁ 96111