{"id":91661,"date":"2026-07-01T10:23:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T16:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=91661"},"modified":"2026-07-01T10:23:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T16:23:39","slug":"wildfire-evacuation-checklist-how-to-prepare-what-to-pack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wildfire-evacuation-checklist-how-to-prepare-what-to-pack\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado wildfires are destroying properties and triggering evacuations. How to prepare in case you need to flee your home."},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><figure id=\"attachment_91673\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-91673\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-91673\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/01093848\/Ouray-fire-taken-from-Rotary-Park-ice-rink-ryan-Hyle-web.webp\" alt=\"This photo was taken from U.S. Highway 550, one mile north of the town of Ouray, Colorado, just hours after the Gold Mountain Fire started. Photo courtesy of Ryan Hyle.\" width=\"640\" height=\"403\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-91673\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This photo was taken from U.S. Highway 550, one mile north of the town of Ouray, Colorado, just hours after the Gold Mountain Fire started. Photo courtesy of Ryan Hyle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As drought has gripped Colorado, devastating wind-whipped wildfires are destroying properties and <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/how-to-stay-safe-when-wildfires-impact-air-quality\/\">filling communities with dangerous smoke<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A fire near Pueblo has prompted evacuations and, so far, has destroyed more than 150 structures and <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chieftain.com\/story\/news\/2026\/06\/30\/heres-the-latest-update-on-the-aspen-acres-fire-in-pueblo-county\/90760600007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">burned more than 28,000 acres<\/a>. In western Colorado, three wildland firefighters who were combating a fire near Grand Junction <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/wildlandfireservice\/burnover-incident-western-colorado-wildfire-results-federal-wildland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">died after flames overtook them<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Emergency preparedness officials are urging people to prepare for worst-case scenarios in the event that fires force evacuations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur dry winter has led to an early fire season,\u2019\u2019 said Jason Eisenbach, manager of emergency preparedness for UCHealth\u2019s northern Colorado region.\u00a0\u201cUnfortunately, you\u2019re not immune anywhere in the state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Being prepared includes planning ahead, staying calm and being informed about local weather conditions and evacuation recommendations from local law and safety officials regarding impending smoke and fire risks.<\/p>\n<p>Making sure you receive the most recent emergency information is important, and there are several easy ways to do that, including signing up for your county\u2019s emergency alert notification system.<\/p>\n<p>The state of Colorado also has several websites with <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/dfpc.colorado.gov\/sections\/wildfire-information-resource-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">updated information on fire<\/a> and <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/csfs.colostate.edu\/wildfire-mitigation\/current-wildfire-information-fire-restrictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">weather conditions.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Individuals can also sign up for <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ready.gov\/alerts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">federal emergency alerts<\/a> and can find helpful information and checklists.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_91675\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-91675\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-91675\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/01093852\/looking-west-toward-the-Aspen-Acres-fire-Todd-Seip-web.webp\" alt=\"Smoke from the Aspen Acres Fire blankets the sky over Pueblo and surrounding communities. Photo by Todd Seip, UCHealth.\" width=\"640\" height=\"349\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-91675\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smoke from the Aspen Acres Fire blankets the sky over Pueblo and surrounding communities. Photo by Todd Seip, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Evacuation essentials:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Important documents.<\/strong> Have a safe place for licenses, passports and important banking information.\n<figure id=\"attachment_91670\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-91670\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-91670\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/01093815\/Ouray-fire-from-the-highway-leaving-ridgeway-ryan-hyle-web.webp\" alt=\"Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire on the Western Slope looms over Montrose, Ridgeway and Ouray. Photo courtesy of Ryan Hyle. \" width=\"400\" height=\"498\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-91670\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire on the Western Slope looms over Montrose, Ridgeway and Ouray. Photo courtesy of Ryan Hyle.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>\n<li><strong>Laptops, cellphones and other electronic devices.<\/strong> Be sure to have chargers ready and know your passwords so you can easily access online information if and when you need it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Insurance information.<\/strong> Review your homeowner\u2019s insurance and have agent contact information. Also, know what your coverage includes if a natural-disaster evacuation is required.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Adequate supply of medications.<\/strong> Do you have enough of your medications to last several weeks? Will you be able to renew your prescriptions easily if you are not in your hometown?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Durable medical equipment (DME)<\/strong>. Make a plan for your DME, such as portable nebulizers, oxygen and dialysis machines. If you lose power, do you have backup batteries, a generator or a plan for moving to an alternate location during an emergency?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Remote phone chargers and backup batteries<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Basic first-aid supplies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Food and water.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Flashlight and some basic tools.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Extra clothing and toiletries<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Questions to ask as you prepare for a wildfire evacuation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Experts recommend thinking through these key questions before you need to leave your home:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do you have medical conditions that require more time or special care if you must leave quickly?<\/li>\n<li>If you lack the means or mode of transportation to leave in an emergency, do you need to reach out to family and friends for assistance if it comes time to leave?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have more than one evacuation route in case evacuation becomes necessary?<\/li>\n<li>Do your family members and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/tips-for-coping-with-natural-disasters-and-talking-with-kids\/\">children know what to do in case of an emergency?<\/a> If your children are at camp or school during the day, do you have a safe and easy way to reach them?<\/li>\n<li>Does your family have a meeting point in case anyone can\u2019t make it home during an emergency?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have a safety plan for your pets, especially if you have larger animals?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s more than just packing a bag, although that is important as well,\u201d said Eisenbach. \u201cIt\u2019s ideal if people put a little thought in now into how an emergency evacuation would affect them and their families and then plan accordingly. It could be life-saving.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_91671\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-91671\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-91671\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/01093844\/Ouray-fire-ryan-hyle-web.webp\" alt=\"A view of the Gold Mountain Fire burning north just outside Ouray, Colorado. Photo courtesy of Ryan Hyle.\" width=\"640\" height=\"399\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-91671\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the Gold Mountain Fire burning north just outside Ouray, Colorado. Photo courtesy of Ryan Hyle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Where to find shelter and support during an evacuation, and when to seek medical care<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>People who need emergency shelter should seek help from local governments or aid organizations like the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.redcross.org\/\"> American Red Cross<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_91669\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-91669\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-91669\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/01093810\/smoke-from-Aspen-Acrees-Fire-looking-west-from-Pueblo-ToddSeip-web.webp\" alt=\"Smoke billows over the Pueblo County Emergency Operations Center during the Aspen Acres fire.Photo by Todd Seip, UCHealth.\" width=\"400\" height=\"484\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-91669\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smoke billows over the Pueblo County Emergency Operations Center during the Aspen Acres Fire. Photo by Todd Seip, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Anyone who is injured should always seek help at an urgent care facility or a hospital ER.<\/p>\n<p>But those who are not injured will want to avoid hospitals during natural disasters or evacuations, since medical providers will be busy tending to people who need emergency care.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCounties will establish some sort of evacuation assistance center, along with agencies like the Red Cross, and people should go there unless they need medical help,\u201d Eisenbach said.<\/p>\n<p>Personal preparedness helps Individuals and families, as well as hospitals and their staff, who will be dealing with a host of medical emergencies caused by wildfires and smoke.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStay informed. Follow directions. Sign up for notifications and be aware of the latest variable weather conditions,\u201d said Eisenbach. \u201cTry not to panic. It\u2019s important to hope for the best but prepare for the worst,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As drought has gripped Colorado, devastating wind-whipped wildfires are destroying properties and filling communities with dangerous smoke. A fire near Pueblo has prompted evacuations and, so far, has destroyed more than 150 structures and burned more than 28,000 acres. In western Colorado, three wildland firefighters who were combating a fire near Grand Junction died after [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2357,"featured_media":91673,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,8],"tags":[113,78,112],"class_list":["post-91661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy-living","category-news","tag-behavioral-health","tag-emergency-services","tag-mental-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Wildfire evacuation checklist: How to prepare and what to pack - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Colorado wildfires are prompting evacuations. 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