Wildfire Watch
A mandatory evacuation is one of the most stressful situations to be in, especially when it’s linked to a fire. You don’t know if you will have a home left, and you don’t know when you’ll be allowed back.
Trying to have some warning is important. That’s why a lot of fire departments and emergency services have set up a fire watch.
The Use of Lightning Detectors
One of the most common ways for a fire to start is due to lightning strikes. So, emergency services tend to use lightning detectors to pinpoint the positive and negative strikes. This gives first responders an idea as to where a fire could start and deal with a situation before it gets out of hand.
This isn’t always perfect, but it’s a start. There’s no need for someone else to call in a report about a fire, as the firefighters already know roughly where they’re going.
The Problem of “Water Dogs”
If you spot smoke, you’ll want to call it in. However, don’t react immediately. Smoke and a phenomenon called “water dogs” look very similar to each other. The latter isn’t as much of a concern. This is when water vapours rise, and they form quickly in a rainstorm due to the way the ground is warm but the air is cool. Think of it like breathing out warm air when you’re out in the cold.
Water dogs tend to be white in color and don’t move around too much. Smoke is a darker grey color and you’ll tend to see swirls within it. That smoke usually rises upward, while water dogs tend to spread across the land instead.
If In Doubt, Call It In
Firefighters would rather check out a potential fire that turns out to be a false call rather than nobody calling something in and the fire turning into something major. So, if you are in doubt about what you’re seeing, call it in.
Even if you just smell smoke, it’s worth calling 911. This smell could be from a distant fire and there tends to be a haze in the air. A fresh fire doesn’t tend to have much of a smell because it’s just starting up burning the fuel.
If you can stay in your location, do so. This gives the firefighters a starting point, and you can then direct them to where they need to go. Of course, if it is dangerous and the fire is close by, you need to get out.