I have been on the fire line in about a dozen wildfires and close to many others over the years. Wildfire is nothing to mess around with. In bad conditions, they spread with unbelievable speed.

If a mandatory evacuation order is issued, staying in your home is a very bad call. Some do and survive. Others don't.

My home in Southern Cal has been seriously threatened by fire on two occasions. Both times I have had the car loaded up and ready to drive away, all of this before the any voluntary or mandatory notices. We have a priority check list which does allow us to get the important items loaded. The rest is just "stuff" and can be replaced. The house is insured and can be rebuilt. Saving the lives of my loved ones and our pets ranks way ahead of any of the material loot we have accumulated.