To be prepared for a fire emergency and avoid causing a wild fire you should: Keep firefighting equipment including fire extinguishers handy. Develop a fire escape plan and practice it regularly. Have at least two ground floor escape routes. Install smoke detectors or alarms and test them monthly. Keep the local number for reporting fires near the phone. Check fire restrictions. Never shoot fireworks in forested areas. Never leave brush fires unattended. Never start bonfires - sparks easily ignite wild fire. Information on Firewise including free home assessments is available from Cheryl Walimaa, Cook County FireWise at 387-3642.