Mindicraft

Immediate danger or evacuation order

Leave now. Do not finish this page.

If officials tell you to evacuate—or fire or smoke makes you feel unsafe—leave now. Do not stop to collect belongings or fight the fire.

Open the leave-now steps Find official local help

Reviewed emergency guide · English

Wildfire help — leave safely, find support, rebuild

You are seen. Your life matters more than belongings.
People beyond the fire line see what is happening and care. This page turns that care into a few practical steps and verified official doors. It is not monitored and cannot send help.

You do not need to finish this guide. Choose the next safe step, then go.

Leave first

I need to leave now

Leave first. Do not finish the page or try to protect property.
  1. If officials tell you to evacuate—or fire or smoke makes you feel unsafe—leave now. Do not stop to collect belongings or fight the fire. Sources: [1] [3] [39]
  2. Use the route officials name. Do not take shortcuts, cross a roadblock, or drive toward fire or downed power lines. Sources: [1] [23] [39]
  3. Only if they are close at hand, take people, medicines, medical or mobility equipment, phone and charger, identification, keys, and pets or service animals. Do not delay leaving. Sources: [2] [24] [39]
  4. If you cannot leave, call your local emergency number. Give your exact location and say if you need accessible transport, medical power, communication help, or animal support. Sources: [1] [24] [39]
  5. If it is safe and does not slow you down, tell one trusted person where you are going and who is with you. Sources: [1] [39]
Words you can use

I am evacuating because of wildfire. I am at [location]. I need [transport, medical power, accessibility, language, or animal help]. Where should I go now?

One next step

I am safely away and need help

Find a safe place for tonight, then handle one urgent need at a time.
  1. Use your local authority or recognized Red Cross or Red Crescent door to find an official shelter or evacuation centre. Confirm accessibility, service-animal, pet, and medical-power needs directly. Sources: [15] [19] [28]
  2. Ask first for injury care, medicines, safe water and food, accessible accommodation, charging or medical power, and help keeping your household together. Sources: [13] [1] [24]
  3. Do not return for belongings until local authorities reopen the area. Do not enter a fire-damaged building until the responsible authority or a qualified inspector says it can be entered. Sources: [1] [4] [40]
  4. When you have breathing room, keep identification, policy details, claim or aid numbers, receipts, photos, deadlines, and dated contact notes together in one recovery folder. Sources: [9] [10]
  5. Open disaster aid through an official government or recognized humanitarian website. Eligibility, deadlines, shelter openings, and payment amounts change by event; this page does not promise them. Sources: [20] [37] [15]
Words you can use

I have evacuated because of wildfire. I need [shelter, medicine, accessible accommodation, food, charging, transport, or animal help] today. What official service can help me?

One next step

Smoke is affecting me

Evacuation orders come first. Otherwise reduce smoke exposure and use health help when needed.
  1. Smoke advice is not permission to stay near a fire. If officials tell you to evacuate, leave immediately. Sources: [3] [5] [1]
  2. If there is no evacuation order and it is safe to remain indoors, move to cleaner, cooler indoor air; close windows and doors when safe, use recirculation and suitable filtration, and avoid making more indoor smoke or particles. Sources: [5] [8]
  3. A well-fitting particulate respirator certified by the authority in your country—for example, a NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 in the United States—can reduce particle exposure. It does not supply oxygen, protect against gases, or replace evacuation. Sources: [8]
  4. Severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, a serious asthma attack, marked dizziness, or a rapidly worsening condition needs urgent medical help through your local health or emergency system. Sources: [27] [3]
  5. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung conditions can face greater smoke risk. Use current local public-health advice for the person in front of you. Sources: [8] [27]
Words you can use

Wildfire smoke is affecting my breathing or health. My symptoms are [plain description]. Where can I get urgent advice or cleaner air now?

One next step

I may be returning home

Return only after authorities reopen the area, and enter a damaged building only after responsible clearance. Fire damage can hide heat, electricity, structural, water, and ash hazards.
  1. Return only after local authorities reopen the area. Enter a fire-damaged building only after the responsible authority or a qualified inspector says it is safe. A quiet street, map, or social post is not clearance. Sources: [1] [4] [40]
  2. Avoid hot ash, embers, unstable trees or buildings, downed lines, damaged tanks, batteries, and chemical containers. Do not restore utilities yourself. Sources: [4] [7] [23]
  3. Follow local public-health advice before using tap or private-well water, or food exposed to fire, ash, heat, damaged packaging, or lost refrigeration. Sealed, undamaged supplies from a safe source can still be used. Sources: [1] [23] [40]
  4. When it is safe, photograph or video damage before moving or discarding items. Contact the insurer or landlord and ask what urgent work or disposal they authorize. Sources: [9] [10]
  5. Keep children, pets, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions away from ash cleanup. Burned-structure ash may contain hazardous material; follow the local debris program before cleanup and use the protection it requires. Sources: [6] [4] [7]
Words you can use

Have local authorities reopened my area? Has the responsible authority or a qualified inspector cleared this damaged building for entry? What water, utility, ash, and structural restrictions still apply?

One next step

I am starting recovery or rebuilding

Make one record, use official doors, and do not let urgency force an unsafe contract or payment.
  1. Contact the insurer or landlord through contact details you verify yourself. Ask about temporary housing, emergency work, evidence, disposal, deadlines, and the next named step. Sources: [10] [9]
  2. Keep copies of forms, photos, receipts, claim and application numbers, names, dates, promises, deadlines, and decisions outside the damaged home or device. Sources: [10] [9]
  3. Before hiring, verify the contractor through the local regulator, obtain written estimates and scope, and do not sign a blank document or pay the entire amount in advance. Sources: [11]
  4. Ask the local building authority which permits, debris rules, and current fire-resilient building requirements apply before reconstruction. Sources: [11] [7]
  5. Safety, shelter, food, medication, trusted contact, and practical help come before retelling the event. Distress after an emergency is common; local health and crisis services can help when it is too much to carry alone. Sources: [13] [14]
Words you can use

I am recovering from wildfire. My next need is [housing, documents, insurance, aid, cleanup, work, school, animals, or emotional support]. Which official service owns that step?

One next step

I am helping someone

Offer calm practical help, preserve choice, and connect the person to current local services.
  1. Check immediate safety first. If the person is in danger, help them contact local emergency services or follow an evacuation order; do not send them back for belongings. Sources: [1] [13]
  2. Ask what practical help they want now: transport, shelter, medication, charging, food, animal care, translation, paperwork, or simply someone trusted beside them. Sources: [13]
  3. Listen without pressing for details or asking them to retell the event. Respect dignity, culture, ability, privacy, and refusal. Sources: [13]
  4. Share the exact official page or number, say when you checked it, and be honest if shelter space, eligibility, hours, or response are unknown. Sources: [13] [15]
  5. A useful message is: I see what is happening. You do not have to solve everything today. I can help with one practical thing you choose. Sources: [13]
Words you can use

I see what is happening. You do not have to explain it all. What is one practical thing you want help with right now?

Ask for one practical need

You can read or copy these words. A local authority or service may ask for more detail.

Accessible transport

I am evacuating because of wildfire. I need accessible transport and have [mobility, communication, medical, or service-animal need]. Where should I go now?

Sources: [24] [1]

Shelter tonight

I have evacuated because of wildfire. I need an official shelter for [people, children, service animal, pets] and need [accessibility or medical power]. What is open now?

Sources: [19] [15]

Medicine or medical power

I have been displaced by wildfire and need [medicine, refrigeration, charging, oxygen, or powered equipment]. Which health or shelter service can help today?

Sources: [24] [13]

Pets, service animals, or livestock

I am evacuating with [pet, service animal, or livestock]. Which official animal-safe shelter or local animal authority should I contact?

Sources: [19] [12] [1]

Housing, money, or disaster aid

I was displaced or lost property in a wildfire. Which official program applies to this event in my area? Has it been formally declared, and does that affect eligibility or deadlines? What documents should I verify?

Sources: [20] [37] [25]

Emotional support

I have been affected by wildfire and need confidential emotional support. Which local disaster or crisis service can I contact now?

Sources: [14] [22]

Official help where you are

Choose your country or region yourself. Mindicraft does not detect or store it. These links leave Mindicraft only when you open them. Reopen the official site for current orders, roads, shelter availability, return clearance, aid deadlines, and eligibility.

Elsewhere or not sure

Use your local government, fire service, civil-protection authority, or emergency broadcaster for orders. The IFRC directory can find the recognized Red Cross or Red Crescent society in 191 countries.

United States

Local and tribal emergency authorities issue evacuation orders. Federal and Red Cross doors below route alerts, shelters, air quality, and declared-disaster help.

Immediate danger in United States: Call 911 Sources: [1]

  • FEMA app and alertsOfficial alerts, safety information, shelter and recovery toolsOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • InciWeb incidentsOfficial incident information; not an evacuation orderOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • AirNow fire and smoke mapCurrent smoke and air-quality information; not an evacuation orderOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • American Red Cross open sheltersCurrent recognized shelter listings and local Red Cross helpOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • USA.gov disaster helpOfficial router for food, housing, bills, insurance and other helpOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • DisasterAssistance.govCheck and apply for federal assistance for a declared disasterOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • SAMHSA Disaster Distress HelplineUnited States and territories: multilingual disaster crisis supportOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
Canada

Local, First Nations, provincial, and territorial authorities lead evacuation and recovery. Use the province or territory page for current orders.

Immediate danger in Canada: Call 911 or your local emergency number Sources: [23]

European Union

National and local civil-protection authorities issue warnings and evacuation orders. European maps and air indexes add context but do not grant clearance or replace local orders.

Immediate danger in European Union: Call 112 Sources: [29]

  • National disaster-management systemsOfficial national civil-protection authority directoryOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • European Air Quality IndexCurrent regional air-quality information; not an evacuation orderOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • EU wildfire response informationRegional civil-protection context; local authorities remain the order sourceOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
United Kingdom

Police, fire and rescue services, local authorities, and GOV.UK Emergency Alerts provide current instructions.

Immediate danger in United Kingdom: Call 999 Sources: [34]

  • GOV.UK Emergency AlertsOfficial emergency-alert informationOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • Prepare for wildfiresOfficial UK wildfire safety and evacuation guidanceOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
Australia

State and territory fire and emergency services issue bushfire warnings. Use their current warning service before any national recovery page.

Immediate danger in Australia: Call Triple Zero (000) Sources: [35]

  • State and territory warning servicesDirectory to official state and territory warning and emergency servicesOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • Disaster Assist — getting helpOfficial declared-disaster payments and support informationOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • Bushfire smoke and healthAustralian Government health information and state guidance linksOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand and local Civil Defence groups provide current warnings, orders, evacuation-centre and recovery information.

Immediate danger in New Zealand: Call 111 Sources: [39]

  • Get Ready wildfire guidanceGeneral official evacuation and return guidance; use local Civil Defence and fire instructions for current ordersOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • Civil Defence contactsNational and local Civil Defence contact routeOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03
  • Where to get recovery supportCurrent official support after an emergencyOfficial or recognized humanitarian site · checked 2026-08-03

Sources and review

This edition was checked on 2026-08-03. It must be reviewed again by 2026-09-03. Every numbered link below goes to the named official or recognized humanitarian source.

  1. WildfiresReady.gov, United States Department of Homeland Security · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  2. Emergency Supply Kit ChecklistFederal Emergency Management Agency · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  3. Safety Guidelines: Wildfires and Wildfire SmokeUnited States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  4. Safety Guidelines: After a WildfireUnited States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  5. Wildfires and Indoor Air QualityUnited States Environmental Protection Agency · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  6. Frequent Questions About Wildland Fire Smoke for IndividualsUnited States Environmental Protection Agency · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  7. Dealing with Debris and Damaged BuildingsUnited States Environmental Protection Agency · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  8. How to Protect Workers and the Public from Wildfire SmokeUnited States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  9. After a Wildland FireUnited States Fire Administration · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  10. What should I do after a wildfire?National Association of Insurance Commissioners · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  11. How can I avoid getting scammed by a contractor?National Association of Insurance Commissioners · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  12. Protecting Livestock During a DisasterUnited States Department of Agriculture · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  13. Psychological first aid: Guide for field workersWorld Health Organization · global · checked 2026-08-03
  14. Mental health in emergenciesWorld Health Organization · global · checked 2026-08-03
  15. National Society directoryInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies · global · checked 2026-08-03
  16. FEMA App and Mobile ProductsFederal Emergency Management Agency · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  17. InciWebUnited States interagency wildland fire community · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  18. Fire and Smoke MapAirNow, United States Environmental Protection Agency partners · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  19. Find an Open ShelterAmerican Red Cross · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  20. Recovering from a disasterUSAGov · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  21. DisasterAssistance.govUnited States Department of Homeland Security · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  22. Disaster Distress HelplineUnited States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration · united-states · checked 2026-08-03
  23. Wildfires — Get preparedGovernment of Canada · canada · checked 2026-08-03
  24. Emergency planning resources for persons with disabilitiesGovernment of Canada · canada · checked 2026-08-03
  25. Wildfires: Federal ResponseGovernment of Canada · canada · checked 2026-08-03
  26. Provincial and territorial wildfire informationGovernment of Canada · canada · checked 2026-08-03
  27. Wildfire smoke, air quality and your healthGovernment of Canada · canada · checked 2026-08-03
  28. Get help: disaster relief and recoveryCanadian Red Cross · canada · checked 2026-08-03
  29. 112 — the EU emergency phone numberEuropean Commission · european-union · checked 2026-08-03
  30. National disaster management systemsEuropean Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations · european-union · checked 2026-08-03
  31. European Air Quality IndexEuropean Environment Agency · european-union · checked 2026-08-03
  32. WildfiresEuropean Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations · european-union · checked 2026-08-03
  33. Emergency AlertsGovernment of the United Kingdom · united-kingdom · checked 2026-08-03
  34. Be informed about wildfiresGovernment of the United Kingdom · united-kingdom · checked 2026-08-03
  35. Triple ZeroAustralian Government · australia · checked 2026-08-03
  36. Getting helpAustralian Government Disaster Assist · australia · checked 2026-08-03
  37. Bushfire smoke fact sheetsAustralian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing · australia · checked 2026-08-03
  38. WildfiresNew Zealand Civil Defence · new-zealand · checked 2026-08-03
  39. Recovery: What to do after a wildfireNew Zealand National Emergency Management Agency · new-zealand · checked 2026-08-03
  40. Contact Civil DefenceNew Zealand National Emergency Management Agency · new-zealand · checked 2026-08-03
  41. Where you can get supportNew Zealand National Emergency Management Agency · new-zealand · checked 2026-08-03