![]() ![]() The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. ![]() The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". ![]() The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. By doing this, they can learn their risk, and take measures to reduce it. Therefore, people should not only be aware if they live in an area susceptible to wildfire, but if they live close to the wildland-urban interface. What can be seen is that several urban areas burned, which is where a large portion of the losses were seen. In all of the maps, the approximate perimeter of the Tubbs Fire is shown. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, just because you are not in a wildfire zone does not mean you won’t be impacted by a wildfire. While there are areas that are more susceptible, one small ignition can turn into a raging inferno given the right situation, including slope and weather conditions. First, wildfires do not always start in areas where the threat is high. This effects map tends to highlight residential areas, transportation routes, and/or telecommunications networks. This map identifies important assets affected by wildfire and/or that are costly to suppress. This was likely due to strong northeasterly winds. This map highlights how the Tubbs Fire ripped across areas with both low and high suppression difficulties. Suppression difficulty is often a product of slope, meaning where there are high slopes, suppression difficulty is also high. This map shows the fire suppression difficulty in the area of the Tubbs Fire. Additionally, it can be seen that the Tubbs Fire began in an area with a moderate fire threat. As can be seen in this map, the fire threat index correlates well with past fires. Also included in this map are fires from 1999-2008. This map shows the Fire Threat Index, which corresponds to the likelihood of an acre burning. However, as was previously mentioned, wildfires can spread into urban areas with proper conditions. What must be said about these maps is that they only consider areas that are prone to wildfires, which means urban areas are excluded. The maps not only illustrate the fire threat, but the suppression difficulty, and how bad effects would be. In the maps below, from the West Wide Wildfire Risk Assessment, the area around the Tubbs Fire is shown. While some houses were left unscathed around Coffey Park in Santa Rosa, others were turned to ash in the Tubbs Fire last October. Such zones are important to recognize, because given the right conditions, wildfires can spread through urban zones, as was seen in the Tubbs Fire, especially around Coffey Park. Additionally, because many regions in California have a high fire threat, residents should be aware if they live in an area at risk of wildfires or if they are close to what is known as the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), which are areas where homes are built near or among lands prone to wildland fire. ![]() (Photo from: SF Chronicle)Įven though the fire has long been put out, residents of the region still have a long way to go to recover, as was reported by the Los Angeles Times last week. This photo shows destroyed homes near Coffey Park in Santa Rosa. The Tubbs Fire quickly swept across Northern California, destroying more than 5,600 structures and claiming 46 lives. Couple this with strong northeasterly winds and the ensuing fire moved extremely rapidly. While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, there were reports of both downed power lines, and exploding transformers in the area around which the fire began. Because of the number of structures claimed, it is the most destructive fire in the state’s history. By the time it was put out, it had destroyed over 5,600 structures, killed 43 people, and burned over 36,000 acres. Last October, the Tubbs Fire ripped across Northern California, burning parts of Napa, Sonoma, and Lake counties. Last October, the Tubbs Fire claimed more than 5,600 structures, making it the most destructive fire in California’s history. Click here to protect yourself from natural disasters A firefighter walks in front of a burning house in Santa Rosa. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |