DURING PEAK WILDFIRE SEASON, REMEMBER TO PREPARE GO-BAGS, REVIEW EVACUATION ROUTES

SANTA FE, N.M. – When it comes to wildfire awareness, it is key to be prepared at a moment’s notice with go-bag essentials and evacuation routes in mind. During Wildfire Awareness Month and throughout peak wildfire season, residents are encouraged to prepare emergency “go-bags” and review evacuation plans to ensure they can leave quickly and safely if wildfire threatens their community.

Emergency preparedness starts well before the threat of wildfire. To help yourself and your family stay prepared, follow these guidelines from the New Mexico State Forestry Division of EMNRD:

• Create a Wildfire Action Plan that includes evacuation planning for your home, family, and pets.
• Assemble an emergency supply kit for each person in your household. This would contain items like copies of personal documents and property records, prescription medications, eyeglasses and contacts, a change of clothes and sturdy shoes, phone charger, battery pack, spare car keys, etc.
• Complete a family communications plan with important contact and evacuation information.
• Stay informed by following local fire alerts and county emergency notifications.

In addition to following updates from New Mexico State Forestry, visit NMFireInfo.com – an interagency effort by federal and state agencies in New Mexico to provide timely, accurate, fire and restriction information for the entire state. The agencies that support the site are the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, State of New Mexico, and U.S. Forest Service.

You can also subscribe to New Mexico State Forestry’s Wildfire E-mail Alert Service (Note: information from this email will only pertain to wildfires on state or private land, not fires burning on federal land such as national forests).

“It’s critical for residents to review recommendations for go-bag essentials from organizations like New Mexico State Forestry and the Red Cross, should disaster arise,” said Elouisa Tyler, Bureau Chief, Consumer Assistance Bureau, Civil Investigations Bureau, OSI. “And remember, you do not have to wait for a formal evacuation order to leave. If you feel unsafe or threatened by fire conditions, evacuating early can help reduce risk and congestion on roadways. Preparation, awareness, and early action can help save lives during wildfire season.”

Check out OSI’s video on wildfire preparedness and more information on this page.

For more information about wildfire prevention and defensible space from New Mexico’s Forestry Division (EMNRD) visit this page.

Residents can also visit this page to review the Wildfire Prepared Home program.

Media Note: In-person interviews are available in Santa Fe. Virtual interviews via Teams and phone interviews are also available.

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About the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance
The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) is New Mexico’s regulatory agency responsible for overseeing a wide range of insurance products, including private health and life insurance, auto, home, business, and title insurance. Bureaus within OSI that assist with disaster and wildfire-related insurance are the Property and Casualty Bureau – which reviews and renders determinations on property and casualty rates, rules, and form filings – and the Consumer Assistance Bureau, which has specialized knowledge in the insurance claims and complaint process and assists consumers with their insurance disputes, as well as educates consumers for a better understanding of their policies and coverages.