Part 3: Have a plan ยท Chapter 11
Your checklist
This page puts the guide's steps in one list. Write the date next to each line when you finish it. Most lines point to the chapter that explains the step.
The order follows chapter 6. It starts with the house and works outward. LA County Fire's Ready! Set! Go! plan puts the home and property first and the household's action plan second 1.
The list
| Step | Where to look | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 0: clear the house and the first five feet | Chapters 2 and 6 | |
| Roof, gutters, vents and eaves | Chapter 7 | |
| Windows, siding and the base of the walls | Chapter 7 | |
| Zone 1, 5 to 30 feet | Chapter 2 | |
| Zone 2, 30 to 100 feet | Chapter 2 | |
| Get quotes from licensed contractors for work you won't do yourself | Chapter 10 | |
| Make a home inventory and keep a copy away from the house | Chapter 8 | |
| Gather receipts and photos of the house as it stands | Chapter 8 | |
| Read your policy's dwelling limit at renewal | Chapter 4 | |
| Ask your insurer what proof it accepts for wildfire discounts | Chapter 8 | |
| Register for your county's alerts | Chapter 3 | |
| Write your triggers, two routes, a meeting place and your pet and livestock plan | Chapter 12 | |
| Pack the go-bag and tell everyone where it is | Chapter 14 | |
| Practice the plan with your household | Chapter 12 |
Optional
| Step | Where to look | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Apply for the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation | Chapter 9 | |
| Check the other fire risks in the house | Chapter 5 |
Keeping it current
LA County's family plan asks households to schedule annual drills and exercise the plan 2. A yearly date on this page is a reasonable time to do that, and to look at which lines have gone stale. Chapter 8 says to update your inventory, photos and video from time to time.
Sources
1. County of Los Angeles Fire Department, "Ready! Set! Go!" https://fire.lacounty.gov/rsg/ (read 2026-11-09)
2. County of Los Angeles Emergency Management, "Family Emergency Plan." https://ready.lacounty.gov/family-emergency-plan/ (read 2026-11-09)