Every summer, smoke appears, windows close, and the danger fades from view. Then a nearby fire, driven by wind, gives your household little time to make choices you have never planned.
Wildfire homes often ignite from embers that travel ahead of the flames, landing in gutters, vents, roof gaps, or mulch near the foundation. Evacuation can also take longer than expected, especially when people leave after conditions worsen.
Smoke in the Air turns these realities into practical preparation you can complete over a weekend. You will create a prioritized property plan, focused on distance from your walls rather than cost, and set a departure rule based on your own judgment.
Inside, you will learn to:
– Reduce ignition risk near your home
– Clear the area closest to your walls
– Extend defensible space by breaking fuel chains
– Close ember entry points
– Measure and shorten evacuation time
– Identify your evacuation zone
– Leave before traffic and official orders
– Help animals and elders leave with more time
– Manage smoke exposure with AQI guidance and a clean room
– Return safely and document damage for your claim
Calm, specific, and honest about uncertainty, this book offers practical steps for households in wildfire country. Written by the host of Cascadia Ready Radio, it turns preparedness guidance into work ordinary households can complete.
