In September 2020, more than 500,000 Oregonians were under evacuation orders simultaneously. Entire communities had less than 30 minutes to leave. In some cases, the warning and the fire arrived at nearly the same time.
Pacific Northwest wildfires have changed. The fires of the past decade are larger, faster, and less predictable than what this region saw a generation ago. If you live anywhere east of the Cascades, in the foothills, or in the rural-urban interface zone, wildfire evacuation is a realistic scenario to plan for — not a distant abstraction.
The families who get out safely are not the ones who made the best decisions in the moment. They’re the ones who made the decisions in advance.
Understand the Level System Before You Need It
Oregon and Washington both use a three-level evacuation system. Know what each level means so you can act decisively when an alert arrives:
- Level 1 — Be Ready: A fire is in your area. Be aware of conditions and be ready to leave. Start preparing your go-bag and know your route. Do not wait to be told twice.
- Level 2 — Be Set: Conditions are worsening and you may need to leave quickly. Have your go-bag packed, your car loaded, your pets secured. Know exactly where you’re going. Be ready to move the moment the level changes.
- Level 3 — Go Now: Leave immediately. Do not gather belongings. Do not wait for family members in other locations — go to your meeting place. Every minute you delay increases risk.
The critical mistake people make is treating Level 1 as an inconvenience and Level 2 as the real warning. Level 1 is your warning. People who wait until Level 3 to start packing lose the time that keeps them safe.
Before Fire Season: What to Do Now
Know Your Evacuation Route — and Your Backup
Identify the primary route out of your neighborhood and at least one alternate. Fires block roads. Some evacuation zones have only one exit; if that road is compromised, you need to know the secondary option. Drive your routes at least once so you know what you’re navigating, not just what the map shows.
Register for Local Alerts
Every county in Oregon and Washington has a local emergency alert system. Wildfire evacuation orders are issued through these systems first — often before local news picks them up. Sign up now at your county emergency management office website. Make sure your cell number is registered.
Prepare a Defensible Space
If you live in a high-risk area, clear vegetation within 30 feet of your home. Remove dead leaves from gutters. Move woodpiles away from exterior walls. Replace wood mulch near the house with gravel. These measures won’t protect a home from a direct fire front, but they significantly reduce the chance of embers — which travel miles ahead of fires — igniting your structure.
Document Your Belongings
Walk through every room and video your possessions. Store the video in cloud storage or email it to yourself. If your home is damaged or destroyed, this record is essential for insurance claims. Takes 20 minutes. Most people don’t have it.
The Go-Bag: What to Grab When Level 1 Hits
Your go-bag should be packed before fire season, not assembled during a Level 1 alert. At minimum:
- 72-hour supply of water and food for every household member (including pets)
- Medications — at least a week’s supply of any prescriptions; don’t assume pharmacies at your destination will have your medication in stock
- Critical documents in a waterproof bag: IDs, insurance cards, passports, property and vehicle titles, financial account information
- Copies of your family communications plan
- Phone charger and a portable power bank
- Cash — card readers often go down during emergencies
- N95 masks — wildfire smoke is a serious health hazard, especially for children and older adults
- Change of clothes for several days
- Pet kit if you have animals
Download our free 72-hour go-bag checklist for a complete list.
When the Order Comes: What to Do in Order
If you’re home when an evacuation order is issued:
- Tell someone where you’re going. Contact your out-of-area person before you leave if you have a few minutes.
- Close all windows and doors — this won’t save the house from a direct hit, but it slows ember intrusion and buys time.
- Leave exterior lights on — visibility for firefighters in smoke.
- Grab your go-bag and pets. Everything else is replaceable.
- Drive away from the fire, not toward it. This sounds obvious, but smoke reduces visibility dramatically. Know your direction of travel before you’re in the smoke.
- Follow designated evacuation routes — even if they seem slower, improvised shortcuts through unfamiliar terrain can be deadly.
After the Emergency: Coming Home
Do not return until officials declare the area safe. Returning too early is dangerous for multiple reasons: active hotspots, unstable structures, and compromised utilities. When you do return, document everything before touching or cleaning anything — for insurance and safety assessments.
If your home was spared, check it carefully: look for embers that may have lodged in the attic, under decks, or in vents. Have utilities inspected before turning them back on.
If you haven’t signed up for your county’s emergency alerts yet, do that today — it takes five minutes and it is the single most impactful thing you can do to improve your wildfire warning time. Questions about preparing for wildfire season? Leave them in the comments.