(COLORADO) — While fires continue to burn around the state, do you know what to do if a fire comes close to your home? According to home safety experts at SafeHome.org and the Red Cross, it is best to start considering measures you can take to protect your loved ones and home before a fire comes to your neighborhood.

First, consider making a “go bag” before a fire starts. A Go Bag is a bag full of supplies you will need if you have to evacuate your home that you can easily take within minutes and leave your home. It is recommended that each member of your home including pets has this kind of bag ready to go. Items you should consider in your go bag are food, water, prescribed medications, a change of clothes, important documents like birth certificates and passports, a backup battery, and pet supplies.

Experts also recommend you have a way of getting information about weather and fires. One way is to download the Fox21 Weather App. The Fox21 Storm Team will send an alert to your phone if a fire were to spark in your area.

Finally, there are ways you can keep your home safe if you get a notice you need to evacuate. As you are leaving, attach garden hoses to a spigot on your home for firefighters to use. Homeowners are advised not to turn sprinklers on or leave water running as this can lower critical water pressure needed to combat fires. As you leave your home, also consider keeping exterior lights on to make your home visible in smoky or dark conditions that could help firefighters be able to locate your home.