Wildfires have always been around. While natural and helpful, they have been known to grow out of control and cause damage and loss of life. Since the early 1900s, federal and state agencies have worked to put in a wildfire policy to prevent, suppress, and maintain. Over the decades, the policy has changed. It’s had to be based on growing concerns and new developments. Here’s a look back at the history of wildfire policy. The Forest Fire Emergency Fund Act The fire was initially viewed as a threat to timber and not life. This is why the initial public funds were devoted to fire suppression and prevention. In 1908, the Forest Fire Emergency Fund Act was brought in, permitting deficit
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To help curb out-of-control wildfires, there have been some communities adapted purposely to manage them. They’re designed in a way that puts the management and control of wildfires first. According to the United States Forest Service, these communities have an increased awareness of wildfires. They’re engaged and take actions to protect the area. The community will think carefully about infrastructure and building materials, as well as the surrounding ecosystem. It’s Not About Stopping Fire The aim of the fire-adapted communities isn’t to completely prevent fires from happening. Some wildfires are necessary. The communities are adapted in a way that makes fire part of their surrounding landscape. These fires are managed. They’re controlled to avoid damaging lives and property. Citizens are
Fire has a natural place in the world. It’s necessary for the management of the forests. Fire ecology is the process of understanding that. The History of Wildfires and Understanding In the early 20th century, there was a concern about timber, which led to the attempt to prevent all fires. However, it was soon clear that some fires were necessary. The United States had to change its campaigns, helping the public understand that some fires are important but there is a fine balance. Up to this point, the view was that all fires were harmful to nature. More people took time to study fires and learn what they mean for forestry and woods. Now it’s clear that fire helps with
Part of fire ecology is understanding fire and its interactions and uses within the ecosystem. All fires will have a severity level, which is the term used for ecologists to understand the impact one fire will have on the specific ecosystem. How do ecologists define the severity? There are a number of factors involved, but one of those ways is through the plant mortality rate. It’s important to understand the three burning levels. Ground Fires: These are the fires that will go through the rich soil. Surface Fires: These fires will burn through the dead plant material on the ground. Crown Fires: These fires burn at the tops of the trees and shrubs. In the majority of cases, ecosystems experience
Suppressing wildfires costs time and money. It also puts lives at risks, especially as unplanned wildfires grow out of control. In fact, it can cost millions of dollars for one single wildfire. It’s important for the federal government to manage the costs but also make sure the money is available to put people, wildlife, and property first. What have been the costs over the years? Where the Money Comes From The Forest Service and the Department of the Interior are responsible for funding the suppression of wildfires on a federal level. Combined, they can certainly raise the money, but it’s not always enough for the number of fires in a year. This number is routinely growing. Even when it’s just
Wildfires spread extremely quickly. While individuals can build and maintain their homes with safety involved, it doesn’t just stop there. The community infrastructure is essential to make it safer in the area. This involves creating evacuation routes, building emergency access points, and creating the right infrastructure around the town. Here’s a look at all the work that needs to be done. Reducing the Risk of Fire Getting the right building materials for shops, offices, and other spaces will be essential. It’s important to minimize the spread of the fire, reducing destruction and making the community safe for all. Likewise, maintaining the area is essential. Creating a defensible space around the entire community and maintaining that is something a town or
Call today for a free estimate on fire mitigation in Franktown (719)400-9104. When building a home, you need to consider the dangers around. Those in wildfire zones will need to consider the location of the construction site carefully. Not only do you want a great view, but you need to keep the home as safe as possible from the spread of wildfire. There are a number of factors that affect the spread of fire. The terrain of the land is one of those, along with saddles, ridges, and even canyons. The direction a slope faces can also lead to the spread or prevention of wildfire. Here are the top considerations to make when selecting a construction site in a wildfire
While wildfires can start naturally, the growth of them has, in part, been due to humans. However, the prevention of them has also been linked to human involvement. Here’s a look at human involvement over the years and how it had an effect on fires. Initial Use of Fires At first, humans weren’t all that interested in fires and what they could do. The Hebrew, Greek, and Roman soldiers would use them in battles and they’d have their use for offering heat, but people weren’t interested in the uncultivated land where most of the wildfires would occur. It wasn’t until the 13th century that humans started to look at other uses of fires. This was when some of the earliest
To clear fence line or area around your existing fence, contact us now. When living in a wildfire zone, you need to take extra steps to help prevent not just the spread of the fire but the damage the fire can do to your home. While you want landscape fences and walls, you’ll need to assess whether they work for your specific needs and are good for the area. This doesn’t mean fences and walls can’t be placed at all. Here are the top tips for constructing the right walls and fences in a wildfire zone. Concerns About Walls and Fences While you want to protect your property and note your boundary, it’s easy to overlook the way the walls
You know all about wildfires now. Every summer, you will hear something about them and how they’re causing devastation and danger to various parts of the United States and the world. But what about the history of wildfires? How have we got to this point? The First Wildfires Wildfires aren’t happening purely due to the ozone layer and human elements. There has been a history of wildfires dating back around 420 million years ago. And that’s just the first evidence found around the Welsh Borders through plant fossils. The fires have started during the Early Devonian period and have continued throughout the Carboniferous and Late Permian period. In fact, each period has seen some sort of wildfire take place, with