Ventura County's Wildfire Action Plan encourages saving lives and property through advance planning, and fire officials offered tips on how to do that at the first of several community meetings on the plan.

"Emergency supplies are crucial to have before a wildfire or any other emergency," said Ventura County Fire Department Capt. Barry Parker at the meeting Tuesday at Moorpark City Hall.

Residents should have a three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day); non-perishable foods for all family members and pets; one change of clothing and footwear; a first-aid kit; tools such as a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries; an extra set of car keys; credit cards; cash; and sanitary supplies.

Important family documents and contact numbers also are important.

"I would take pictures off my walls, and my computer CPU, which has my important documents on them. Then I would work backwards and take what I can," Parker said.

Fire officials recommend evacuating a home early in the event of a wildfire. But if residents are prepared to stay and defend their homes, there are certain things to consider, Parker said.

Do you have the resources and equipment to fight the fire? Is your home constructed to resist fire? Does your home have defensible space of at least 100 feet cleared of flammable materials and vegetation?

"If you answer no to any questions above, then the best advice would be to evacuate early," he said. "Eighty percent of fire fatalities occur when people stay too long and try to leave their homes at the last minute."

Parker also offered tips on how to help make a house more accessible to fire personnel:

n Make sure the address is visible and clearly marked. If the Fire Department can't see the address through the smoke it will make it more difficult for them to save the home.

n Before leaving the home, close all doors and windows, turn off gas at the shut-off valve, turn off air conditioning, and leave lights on.

Parker also recommended investing in metal patio furniture.

"If you have plastic furniture, there's a higher chance it will burn and could cause fire to spread more rapidly," he said.

The small audience was composed mainly of Arroyo Park mobile-home owners. Resident Larry Craven asked if the Fire Department has a brush removal plan for the hills and surrounding areas of Moorpark.

"We need to be aware of all areas in the county that may be fire prone," Parker said. He suggested that anyone who knows of any areas needing clearance call the Fire Department.

Pam Jordan, also of Arroyo Park, remembered the Moorpark fires of 2003 and was concerned about her area.

"This fire season can possibly be unlike no other we have seen before," Parker said. "We have had months of dry weather, Santa Ana winds and no precipitation. With heightened awareness, we can make sure that all citizens of Ventura County are better equipped with their knowledge in knowing what to do if a fire arises."

Meetings also are planned for other communities in the county, including 6:30 tonight at Camarillo City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive; 6:30 p.m. Monday at Thousand Oaks City Hall, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.; 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road; and 7 p.m. Aug 15 at the Ojai Valley Women's Club, 441 E. Ojai Ave.

For more information, visit fire.countyofventura.org.