a tinder box… rainfall remained well below average last winter and again this autumn.” Combine this drought-stricken landscape with record-breaking heat, plus fierce Santa Ana winds, and you have a recipe for disaster.The bigger question is, of course, how to prevent wildfires from starting?
Clearly, wildfires wreak havoc in many people’s lives around the globe. Nations spend enormous amounts of resources in combating these fires, often relocating thousands of people due to unlivable conditions in the devastated areas. Dedicated fire units have been set up to counter the spread in ...
Wildfires became terrifyingly prevalent during the recent extended drought in the Pacific Northwest, and fire authorities stepped up their recommendations to homeowners to establish a "defensible space" between buildings and the surrounding vegetation. Landscaping to establish this space won't prevent a wi...
While we often look at wildfires as being destructive, many wildfires are actually beneficial. Some wildfires burn the underbrush of a forest, which can prevent a larger fire that might result if the brush were allowed to accumulate for a long time. Wildfires can also benefit plant growth by...
Only you can prevent wildfires, and here’s how! While at home or on camping trips, follow these important safety tips. Campfire Safety Enjoy your campfire while preventing wildfires. LEARN EACH STEP How to pick your campfire spot How to prepare your campfire pit How to build your camp...
"It's not the flames that actually cause your house to be consumed by fire, it's the embers that get carried during wildfires that do that." Fire Smart suggests people keep mulch at least 1.5 metres away from buildings. (Katerina...
OK, that's an exaggeration, and better suited to smaller volcanoes. But imagine 50 Krakataus or 1,000 Mount St. Helens erupting in a single location, blasting out as much ejecta in minutes as smaller volcanoes produce in years. As much as we might fear earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and...
Bill Tripp, whose great-grandmother taught him as a young child how to burn land on purpose to prevent large wildfires later. Credit: Bill Tripp Further Reading Read and listen toEzra David Romero’s reportingatCapital Public Radio. Learnhow Native American communities are addressing climate change...
"All the provinces and territories are increasingly trying to shift focus towards a greater emphasis on preventing human-caused wildfires in the first place, and proactively mitigating risks from fires before they occur." Collaboration and local experti...
“Close all your windows, and if you’re able to and aware of how to do it safely, shut off the gas and power to your home,” he said. Closing doors, windows and vents will help prevent embers from blowing inside and catching the interior on fire, Torres said. Don’t wait — j...