Berkeley Fire Center Blog

The new issue of National Geographic Magazine has an article on wildfire in the western U.S., and features, of course, some amazing photos (and video). The article is in-depth, and thought-provoking on many levels. The author, Neil Shea, brings up one of the most interesting philosophical points about firefighting (one that we have also been making): why do we even believe that we can fight fire? That is, when comparing fire with other natural disasters, why is fire the only one that we “fight” (we don’t have flood fighters or earthquake fighters, for example)?

Other highlights include a reference to the wildland-urban interface as the “stupid zone” (noting that is what some firefighters call it), and a quote about the challenge of firefighting:

“The more money we spend, the worse it gets,” one fire scientist told me last summer. “If that’s not a condemnation of our fire policies, I don’t know what is.”

The article questions the assumption that we can and should fight wildfires, regardless of whether they are in the wildland-urban interface or not, and mentions the Australian approach, which is more focused on very early evacuation and fire resistant construction. To illustrate that latter, one of the photos accompanying the article shows how a pile of pine needles on a wood deck caused that house to burn in the October 2007 fires in southern California.

One place the article could have been improved: the “How to Help” section. While it touches on the “Firewise” principles, it doesn’t do justice to the full suite of things that should be considered in fire resistive construction.

Today’s episode of the California Report featured a story on the one year anniversary of the Angora Fire. The report focused on how those who lost their homes are going about rebuilding.

The most interesting finding was that many people submitted their building permits in advance of January 1, 2008 — the date that new wildland-urban interface building codes (Chapter 7a of the California Building Code) went into effect. These building codes require ignition resistant construction and materials, and include specific items like tempered glass windows that have been shown to greatly reduce structural vulnerability to wildfire. Talking about why they chose to submit permits so as to not have to comply with the new building codes, most of the people quoted referred to the increased cost.

One particularly interesting segment of the interview featured somebody who works with the Tahoe fire districts who just bought a new lot in the area, and also chose to get his permits in before the new building codes took effect. I find it meaningful that even folks who know that the type of construction mandated by the new code works don’t necessarily want to have to comply with it. While from here on out, new buildings in designated areas will have to comply with the code, there is still an awful lot of older housing out there, and this issue makes me truly believe that we are going to need to find ways to create financial and other incentives to get folks to reduce fire hazards on their property.

Among those interviewed for the story was CE Advisor Susie Kocher.

Ignited Thursday morning, the Summit fire has burned 3100 acres, consuming ten homes in the process. California Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency yesterday for Santa Cruz county. The fire is 20% contained though Cal Fire officials predict that the blaze may grow up to 4000 acres over night and take several days to contain. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though there are scattered reports that it may have been caused by residents burning piles of brush to clear land. Because the fire abuts state and county parks, more than 30 agencies have sent fire crews from around the state. Saratoga Fire Captain Bill Morrison said that it has been a dry year, but “It’s early for a fire of this magnitude. This is stuff you usually see in September.”

Today, Gov. Schwarzenegger issued an Executive Order on wildfire. The order anticipates an “imminent threat of devastating wildfires and imminent peril to people and property” and calls on several state agencies, ranging from CalFire to the Office of Emergency Service to the Department of Insurance, to begin preparing for the 2008 fire season.

Compared to other recent Executive Orders on the issue of wildfire, this one is wide ranging. Just some of the issues mentioned include bark beetle infestations, climate change and greenhouse gases, biomass and biofuels, wildlife, and water and air quality. Specific actions ordered are mostly focused on increased firefighting capabilities — equipment, staff, etc. — and enforcement of defensible space regulations.

We just started a fire center YouTube Channel. I’ve added a few videos and hope to keep adding over the next few weeks. Using your YouTube login, you can subscribe to our video feed to be notified when new content is added.