When we were kids, both my husband and my own family homes burned to the ground, and our own home nearly burned 8 years ago--wildfire came within a rural road's width before savior firemen were able to put it out...so I'm a bit paranoid about fires. During the fire here I had to pack the truck while John was hosing down the perimeter...I loaded a lot faster than I unloaded.

First five: Dogs first, in the cab, windows rolled up most of the way so they couldn't escape. Then: my guitar, my husband's paintings, old photo album, address book/purse. I had time for other things too, like our glase recipes (we were potters), armloads of clothing, computer..

Since that time I keep the truck at least half full of gas, keep my keys always in my purse, and dog leashes and collars on hooks by the door. The above suggestion of keeping really important papers in an easily accessible box is a good one too. Very difficult to stay calm in these situations, (my mother, in her panic, ended up taking a couple of unopened cartons of cigarettes and leaving the family business records behind).

If I'm ever in this situation again (and after 4 years of drought not unlikely) I'll try to remember to take the time to put on sturdy comfortable shoes before loading. In my haste I slipped barefooted into the nearest pair to hand, and wound up with world class blisters by the time the danger was over.