This announcement is kind of like the garden seed catalogs you receive in late winter with reminders of what to do in each of the upcoming months.
Are your backup supplies and kits ready for a long, exciting off-road adventure? Maybe the Rubicon? How about an emergency evacuation due to wild fires?
While you have time in these dog days of August, inspect, upgrade and refresh all the various backup/ emergency kits you have.
Perhaps you have a few kits you rely on if a breakdown or failure.
- Go bag
- First-aid kit
- Spare fluids box
- Spare parts bag
- Spare nuts and bolts box
- Tent repair kit
An emergency evacuation is a real possibility here in the west.
This year is turning out to be another banner year for wildfires. The National Interagency Fire Center reports that, as of Aug. 7, 2024 fires are burning across the U.S. All told, more than 2,289,000 acres have burned.
The continued dry conditions out west are primed for an unwanted fire to start. Whether due to lightning, a campfire, a discarded cigarette butt, or other means, a small fire can quickly explode into a raging inferno. Four-wheelers must be ready to move out quickly. Time is of the essence when a wildfire starts nearby.
Go bag and first-aid kit ready to go?
A critical component of a quick evacuation is the go bag. Take a few moments to review your go bag and related gear. Make sure the contents can deliver if need be.
Review your first-aid kit as well. Any supplies need replenishing or replacing? Pay particular attention to:
Bandages: Running low? If the packaging or wrappers are grungy or appear old, replace the supply. Bandages dry out over time and lose some of their stickiness.
Prescription and OTC medicines, ointments/creams/salves: Replace any that are nearly empty or beyond their expiration dates. Replace the naloxone if you had to use it.
Inspect food, gear in the vehicle
Examine all your food. Toss anything that has gone bad. Replace any that are beyond their sell-by dates. (The food might still be good, so you don’t need to throw it away. Enjoy the food at home.)
Check out your supplies of Blue RTV and JB Weld products. Replace any that are nearly empty, dried up, or way out of date. Take inventory of important spare parts. Ditto for the tent and tent repair kit. Replace as needed.
We all have our comfort zone. For me it is a spare starter motor, fuel pump and crank sensor. On a remote trip, there is no way to “MacGyver” these items on most vehicles.
A wildfire can become a monster quickly
My group got a lesson in escaping a wildfire back in August 2021. Our five-day trip quickly became a three-day excursion. We could see the massive smoke in the distance.
The Caldor fire, as it became known, began near Grizzly Flats, California. It quickly devoured that town as it spread mostly east and north. In the end, it burned nearly 222,000 acres. In one day alone, it moved 8 miles in one direction and 7 miles in the other.
Our route involved a clockwise loop starting from the southern end of South Lake Tahoe and ending back in that city. I had hoped to spend the entire five days. Mother Nature (or some other force) had other plans. Even though I had to cut back to three days, we successfully drove the Rubicon. With the wildfire in the distance, this was an event I don’t care to experience again.
How to prevent a wildfire
Do your part to keep a wildfire from starting. Here are some important reminders.
Driving and maintaining the vehicle: Avoid driving over dry grass and brush. The hot exhaust pipe, muffler or catalytic converter could start a fire. Stop frequently and check the undercarriage for grass or brush caught in the frame.
Poor maintenance is also a problem. Worn, thin brakes lead to metal-on metal contact, which can cause sparking.
Camping: Fire restrictions in much of the western U.S prohibit burning wood or charcoal. Any heating or cooking must be done with a propane device.
But even in areas where burning is allowed, take appropriate measures. Make sure there is at least 3 feet of cleared space around the fire. Keep water and a shovel nearby. Use water to douse all fires and embers; don’t leave the firepit until the ashes are at most warm to the touch.
Smoking: Don’t throw the cigarette butt out the car window. Countless grass fires have started that way along roadways. If smoking at a campsite, properly dispose of all smoking materials.
Field repairs, outdoors work: Welding, brazing, and propane soldering can be risky. Ditto for cutting with a torch. Weld only a while in a clear space.
Grinding generates sparks. Try to do your grinding in the bed of a truck or on a cleared portion of land.
While we’re on the topic of fires, review your home evacuation plan if you have one. Rehearse the various continency plans with your family. A fire can occur in any part of the structure. Make sure everyone understands what to do should a fire start. The Red Cross offers many good tips for surviving a house fire and other disasters. See their website at www.redcross.org.
Sadly, it appears that North America is in for another long fire season. Wildfires are a part of our lives, and will continue to be. It’s important for anyone who spends time outdoors to understand and implement the proper strategies.
Take a few moments to review your emergency plan. Inspect your go bag, first-aid kit, and other supplies. Be prepared in case you and your family have to flee on a short notice.
# # #
Did you miss the previous articles?
2024
- 2024-07-06 Pack Naloxone – You May Save A Life
- 2024-06-10 Know When to Say When While Four-Wheeling
- 2024-05-23 We Get Questions
- 2024-04-25 Synthetic Rope For Winching
- 2024-03-11 AI Can’t Replace Hands-On Training For Four-Wheeling
- 2024-02-14 Every Off-Road Trip Needs A Leftie!
- 2024-01-13 How To Drive Safely On Gravel Roads
Some Upcoming Events (click on the link for details)
The 2024 schedule of clinics and adventures trips has been posted on the web site.
August 2024
August 12, 2024 Rubicon Adventure
August 24, 2024 Sand Dune Off-Road Driving – Oceano Dunes
August 25, 2024 Self Recovery Clinic – Oceano Dunes
September 2024
September 7, 2024 Tire Repair and Hi Lift Mini Clinic – LA Area
September 14, 2024 Winching Clinic – LA Area
September 14, 2024 Day 3 Putting It All Together – LA Area
October 2024
October 12, 2024 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
October 13, 2024 Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
October 12-13, 2024 Getting Started Two Day Package – LA Area
October 18, 2024 Death Valley Adventure
73 KI6FHA
I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-613-5473
www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
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Copyright 2024, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.
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