Wildfire Information for Workers

People across the West Coast are being forced to flee their homes due to encroaching wildfires. We have begun receiving requests from UFCW locals and other unions for any help and support we can offer, and we know UFCW 21 members may need support like this as well. Evacuating safely is a life or death issue. While respecting the risks of traveling and congregating during the COVID pandemic, we would like to offer whatever support or emergency shelter we can to our union family and any emergency evacuees. Mutual aid is a part of standing together in solidarity.

If you would be willing to host a person or family evacuating a wildfire area, whether in your home or outdoor area (parking space for an RV, space in your yard for a pet or farm animal), please fill out the form below to offer up your space.

If you are expecting to be evacuated and looking for a place to stay, whether you need a couch to sleep on, a place to park an RV, or you are evacuating pets and/or farm animals, fill out the short form below and we will be in touch with you if we can match you with someone offering shelter.

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OTHER SMOKE AND FIRE INFORMATION

If your workplace is closed due to smoke or wildfire:

• Please contact your Union Rep or the Rep of the Day line so they know about the situation and can help problem-solve.

• If appropriate, your employer should allow you to pick up hours at another work location that is safe. If management refuses to make this option available to you, contact your Union Rep for assistance with negotiating a good arrangement.

SMOKE:

• Washington State Air Quality Map

• Puget Sound Clean Air Agency wildfire smoke information

• Q&A on Wildfire Smoke from the WA Dept. of Health

• How to Keep Indoor Air Clean on Smoky Days from King County Public Health Dept.

WILDFIRE:

• Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildfire Information Page

From the DNR:

“Local emergency management offices, such as sheriff departments or local fire districts, order and communicate evacuations when needed and other emergency activities outside of the work to combat wildfire. If you find yourself in a wildfire emergency, always follow the directions of public safety personnel. In an evacuation, use the "P's of Preparedness" to focus your efforts.”

• How to Prepare for a Wildfire from Ready.gov, including the “5 Ps” to consider when preparing to evacuate:

• PEOPLE: People and, if safely possible, pets and other animals/ livestock

• PERSONAL NEEDS: Personal needs—such as clothes, food, water, first aid kit, cash, phones, and chargers— and items for people with disabilities and others with access and/or functional needs, such as older adults, children, and those with Limited English Proficiency

• PRICELESS ITEMS: Priceless items, including pictures, irreplaceable mementos, and other valuables

• PRESCRIPTIONS: Prescriptions, with dosages; medicines; medical equipment; batteries or power cords; eyeglasses; and hearing aids

• PAPERS: Papers, including important documents (hard copies and/or electronic copies saved on external hard drives or portable thumb drives)