As development intensifies in forest-prone regions, experts focus on community-based hardening
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The fire could start and spread anywhere in the United States. Specific climate, weather and geographical conditions are major factors in how big a fire can become. Areas that are most prone to significant forest fire threats are known as urban wildlife interfaces, or for short WUI. WUI is defined as a place where homes and communities intersect with natural wilderness. California has a lot of WUI territory, especially in the Foothills. Geographers estimate that WUI communities have grown by 40-50% over the past decade as more people move from urban to more rural areas. This growth has put millions of people at risk of losses from forest fires. But development is half the battle. “The fires themselves are changing. We are witnessing more extreme, larger-scale events. We are seeing more cases of emergency fires caused by climate change.” said Michael Gollner, an associate professor of mechanical engineering in California, Berkeley. Gollner studies the growth of fires in communities, focusing on what causes structures to catch fire. He said that in most cases, the spread of fire from house to house causes coals, and emphasizes the need to harden the house as a whole and protected space practices. “As a homeowner, you have to really look at your risk, but also at the risk that your design may create adjacent properties if you don’t maintain it properly,” Golner said. This is for existing communities. he says careful planning and maintenance from everyone will be key. “We are not going to put out the fire. The fire has always been here, long before we were. The difference is whether we will adapt to the fire and whether we will be able to manage so that it does not lead to the destruction of life and property?” Gallner said things like the installation of Class A roofing material and certain types of wire mesh for canopies and vents are not an ideal solution, but they can help reduce time for firefighters. and even incentives for them to be effective in rural areas.With hot and windy weather forecast now is the time to prepare your property and your family for the forest fire season.For more information and tips on how to prepare, see the special issue of KCRA To look at the threat of forest fires in your area on a daily basis, check out the new KCRA 3 fire threat index.
The fire could start and spread anywhere in the United States.
Specific climatic, weather and geographical conditions main factors how great a fire can become.
Areas that are most exposed to significant forest fire threats are known as urban wilderness interface, or WUI for short. WUI is defined as a place where homes and communities intersect with natural wilderness.
California has a lot of WUI territory, especially in the Foothills. Geographers estimate that WUI communities have grown by 40-50% over the past decade as more people move from urban to more rural areas.
This growth has put millions of people at risk of losses from forest fires. But development is half the battle.
“The fires themselves are changing. We are witnessing more extreme, larger-scale events. said Michael Gollner, an associate professor of mechanical engineering in California, Berkeley.
Gollner studies the growth of fires in communities, focusing on what causes structures to catch fire. He said that in most cases the spread of fire from house to house is caused by coals, and stressed the need for common home hardening and protected space practices.
“As a homeowner, you have to really look at your own risk, but also at the risk that your design may create adjacent properties if you don’t take proper care of it,” Gollner said.
This is for existing communities. He says careful planning and maintenance will be key for those not yet built.
“We are not going to put out the fire. The fire has always been here, long before us. The difference is whether we will adapt to the fire and be able to control it so that it does not destroy life and property? ” Said Gollner.
Things like installing A-class roofing material and certain types of netting for canopies and vents are not an ideal solution, but they can help reduce time for firefighters.
Golner also said these solutions need to be financially feasible and even stimulated to be effective in rural areas.
With hot and windy weather forecast now is the time to prepare your property and your family for the forest fire season. For more information and advice on how to prepare, see KCRA 3 Wildfire Ready special. And to look at the threat of forest fires in your area on a daily basis, check out the new information from the KCRA 3 weather team Fire Hazard Index.
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