QuickTake:

With wildfire season underway, now is the time to prepare. This guide offers a simple, budget-conscious approach to building a go bag — starting with what you already have and customizing it to fit your life.

Wildfire season is here.

Already in Lane County, a wildfire forced people to evacuate their homes near Mapleton. Dry conditions and gusty winds continue to fuel brush fires, keeping first responders busy and communities on edge.

That’s why officials ask you to prepare now.

Preparation at this point in the season means signing up for emergency alerts and having a go bag ready to take with you in case evacuation becomes necessary.

Start assembling a go bag by looking for the items you already have in your home. 

Why make a go bag?

Unlike during winter storms or extreme heat events, which might allow you to safely stay home using supplies like generators and stocked pantries, wildfires are unpredictable and move fast. Flames and smoke can quickly change direction, leaving little or no time to gather your essentials.

First, find a bag. Or a different container

A go bag is designed for mobility — something you can quickly grab, easily carry, and load into your vehicle when every second matters. It’s important to consider what mobility looks like for you; for example, you might opt for a wheeled tub or bin for heavier items, or a backpack if that’s easier to carry. Whatever works best, having your go-bag ready ahead of time reduces stress, improves your safety, and can potentially save lives.

Then, think about what goes in the go bag 

Many public safety organizations, including the Oregon Health Authority and the American Red Cross, offer comprehensive checklists for emergency kits. But to get started, consider the items in three categories:

  • Food and water: Nonperishable food for at least three days, bottled water (about one gallon per person each day).
  • Light and energy: Flashlights, batteries, phone chargers. 
  • Wellness: First aid supplies, prescription medications, sanitation items, and copies of important documents that may support your health, including identification and insurance cards.

It’s also important to think about what you use in your everyday life — and what you’d need if you had to be away from home. Ask yourself questions like: 

  • Would a sleeping bag help? 
  • Do I need a change of clothes for myself or others in my family? 
  • What about pet food? 
  • Multipurpose tool? 
  • Cash? 

Make a go bag that fits your time and budget

Here’s an example of a starter kit that may work for a family of two, focusing on our three categories: food and water, energy, and wellness.

This one leans on what you might already have — thrift store finds, old camping gear, leftover dehydrated meals from summer trips, and flashlights pulled from the junk drawer. Once you have the essentials, you can keep building your kit by picking up one item at a time — whether during your weekly grocery run or the next trip to the superstore. 

Food and water 

  • Meals lined up.
    Dehydrated meals fit compactly in small kits. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield
  • An assortment of meal and cooking items.
    A camp stove, stove fuel, lighter, collapsable water jug, and dehydrated meals. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield
  • Utensils in a cup
    Assortment of old camping utensils now in kit. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

Nonperishable foods include items like dehydrated meals, canned soup, peanut butter, and granola bars. Consider tools you may need to access these foods like can openers or boiling water with portable stoves. And generally when shopping for food, think about items that have a long shelf life and keep track of expiration dates. 

For water, keep a few bottles on hand and consider a collapsible gallon container that’s easy to store and refill.

Light and energy

  • A flashlight shines on Smoky Bear.
    A flashlight that is part of an emergency preparedness kit. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield
  • A battery bank sits atop batteries.
    A battery bank, and batteries, for devices like phones and flashlights that will comes with people during an evacuation. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

This kit includes a battery bank and spare flashlight batteries—both underutilized household items. When planning your own, think about how many people, devices, and lights you may need to support. A headlamp can be helpful for hands-free tasks, while glow sticks offer safe, low-effort lighting in a pinch. 

Wellness 

  • An opened first aid kit.
    A first aid kit with band-aids, pain relievers, and more. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield
  • A first aid kit and small dime-sized compressed towelettes.
    A store-bought first aid kit and towelettes that expand with water. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield
  • An assortment of items with a storage container behind it.
    An emergency preparedness kit designed for a wildfire evacuation. Credit: Ashli Blow / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

This part of the kit includes first aid supplies, sanitation items, and any medications needed for you, your family members, or your pets. Also consider towels, whether cloth, paper, or both. Don’t forget important paperwork — things like IDs, health insurance cards, and documents that explain medical needs or prescriptions. These help ensure you get the care you need if you’re away from home.

Keep adding on

Again, this is just the base — and just one version of a go-bag (or box, in this case). Preparedness looks different for everyone. The important thing is to start where you are, with what you have, and build from there.

Ashli Blow brings 12 years of experience in journalism and science writing, focusing on the intersection of issues that impact everyone connected to the land — whether private or public, developed or forested.