Information About Wildfires in 2018
Deaths
In all wildfires combines a total of about 98 people died and over 1,000 people injured. Over one million arces of land were destroyed or damaged.
How To Decrease Impact
Here are ways to help decrease the damage that comes with wildfires. Protect your homes with these things
- Maintain Defensible Space (0–5 feet)
---Use noncombustible materials such as gravel, brick, or concrete in this critical area adjacent to your home.
- Reduce Siding Risks
---Maintain 6-inch ground-to-siding clearance, and consider noncombustible siding.
- Clean Debris from Roof
---Regularly remove debris from your roof, since debris can be ignited by wind-blown embers.
- Use a Class A Roof Covering
---Class A fire-rated roofing products offer the best protection for homes.
- Clean Out Gutters Regularly
---Keep debris out of gutters since debris can be ignited by wind-blown embers.
If used, gutter covers should be noncombustible.
- Reduce Fence Risks
---Burning fencing can generate embers and cause direct flame contact to your home.
Use noncombustible fences and gates.
- Keep Embers out of Eaves and Vents
---Use 1/8-inch mesh to cover vents, and box-in open eaves to create a soffited eave.
- Protect Windows
---Use multi-pane, tempered glass windows, and close them when a wildfire threatens.
- Reduce Deck Risks
---At a minimum, use deck boards that comply with California requirements for new
construction in wildfire-prone areas, remove combustibles
- Maintain Defensible Space (5–30 feet)
---Remove shrubs under trees, prune branches that overhang your roof, thin trees,
and remove dead vegetation. Move trailers/RVs and storage sheds from area, or build
defensible space around these items.
Who Are Affected
The effects of wildfires are numerous and wide-ranging. They can have significant impacts on the economy, environment,
heritage and social fabric of rural areas. Wildfires create safety issues for those who live and work in isolated areas,
as well as endangering people who use and enjoy the countryside.Wildfire also has the potential to affect the lives of
people well outside the immediate area of any incident. Smoke can travel many miles on prevailing winds, affecting air
quality and visibility in areas far away. This can have public health implications, especially for people with respiratory
problems, as well as causing disruption to traffic. Even most people survive the fire, they still have to deal with the aftermath
like losing their home.
Causes of Wildfires
There are many ways these fires start. For example:
- A glass bottle thrown on the side of the road magnifies a ray of sunlight, igniting grass around it.
- Kids playing with matches inadvertently start a fire.
- A campfire is not properly extinguished and spreads.
- Sparks from a train ignite grass around the tracks.
- A controlled burn gets out of control.
- Fireworks set a nearby tree on fire.
- A cigarette isn't put out and catches a patch of dry grass on fire.
Wanna play the other option?