Do fire-proof safes work for wildfires? Your guide to picking the best safe

While fire safes are known to work, bring your most important documents with you in case you need them if you've been evacuated due to a wildfire. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends keeping copies of your important documents in a flood-proof and fireproof safe.

Prepare a grab-and-go bag with your passport and important documents for easy access if evacuating.

What to look for in a fire-proof safe

Before buying a fire safe, check the safe’s rating. Different ratings cover different temperature ranges and time the safe can withstand a fire. Safes rated Class A can stand 4 hours in a furnace and up to 2,000 degrees; Class B safes can stand 2 hours and 1,850 degrees; Class C safes and Class D safes can stand up to 1 hour at 1,700 degrees; and Class E can stand up to 30 minutes in 1,550 degrees.

Wildfire guide: Your Arizona wildfire questions answered, including how to be prepared

How are fire-proof safes tested?

According to DeanSafe, a national safe manufacturer, some manufacturers test and certify their safes through independent testing labs. Safes go through an endurance test, an explosion hazard test and a fire impact test to test the quality of the safes.

Is there a seal of approval or way to know a fire-proof safe is good?

Fire-resistant safe experts recommend looking for the UL logo on a safe for Underwriters Laboratories, which run independent tests on consumer products, according to an NBC article.

Also look for the letters KSG next to a number, issued by K.I.S, or Korean Industrial Standard Fire Test for reputable testing standards. The number next to KSG tells consumers at which temperatures and for how long the safe can withstand a fire.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Do fire-proof safes work for wildfires? What to know