What to do when a wildfire evacuation order is issued
A clear, step-by-step guide to acting fast and safely the moment a wildfire evacuation order reaches you, so you leave with what matters and reach safety.
When an evacuation order is issued for your area, the decision has already been made for you. An order is not a suggestion and it is not the same as an evacuation alert. An alert means get ready. An order means leave now. The single most important thing you can do is treat the order as final and act on it without delay. People who wait to see how a fire develops often lose the safe window to drive out.
Here is how to move quickly and calmly.
Leave immediately
Go as soon as the order reaches you. Conditions during a wildfire can change in minutes as wind shifts and embers travel far ahead of the flame front. Roads can fill with traffic or become blocked by fire, fallen trees, or downed power lines. The earlier you leave, the more route options you have and the less time you spend in smoke. Do not stop to water the lawn, hose the roof, or pack things you do not truly need. Your life and the lives of the people with you come first.
Grab your go-bag and the essentials
Keep a go-bag ready before fire season so this step takes seconds, not minutes. At a minimum bring identification and important documents, any prescription medications, eyeglasses, phone and charger, cash, water, and a change of clothes. Bring your pets and their carriers, leashes, food, and any medication they need. If you have livestock, follow the plan you made in advance for trailering or releasing them to a safe area. Our preparedness checklists include a printable evacuation checklist you can run through in advance and again on your way out the door.
Before you leave, if you have time and it is safe, close all windows and doors, leave interior doors open, turn off gas at the source if your local authority advises it, and leave exterior lights on so the home is visible through smoke. Do not let any of this delay your departure.
Follow official routes and instructions
Use only the evacuation routes and reception centres named by your local authority or emergency service. They are chosen to keep traffic moving away from the fire, and a familiar shortcut may lead straight toward it. Keep your vehicle’s fuel tank above half during fire season so you are never caught needing to refuel while leaving. Drive with headlights on in smoke, keep your distance, and do not pass emergency vehicles. If you can, check the live situation before and during your drive on our wildfire map or in the free WildFire-Ready app, which show active fires, evacuation zones, road closures, and air quality across Western Canada and 18 western US states.
If you have a few moments and it will not slow you down, let a friend or family member outside the area know your route and destination. This gives responders and loved ones a way to account for you.
Do not return until the all-clear
An evacuation order stays in effect until your local authority formally lifts it or downgrades it to an alert. Returning early puts you in the path of an unpredictable fire and in the way of crews working to contain it. Hazards linger after the flames pass, including hot spots, weakened trees, damaged power lines, and poor air quality. Wait for the official all-clear from the agency that issued the order, then follow any guidance they give about returning safely.
Preparing ahead of time is what makes a fast, calm departure possible. Build your go-bag, map two ways out of your neighbourhood, and review the steps above with everyone in your household before fire season arrives. When the order comes, you will already know exactly what to do.
See live fires, evacuation alerts, air quality, and road closures for Western Canada and 18 western US states on our free live map, then run through the preparedness checklists before fire season.
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