Fighting the Elements
Preparing for wildfires before, during, and after they strike
Episode 1
Facing the Fire
The threat of catastrophic fires grows each year as nearly one-third of Americans live on the edge of wilderness areas in what’s known as the “wildland urban interface.“ But after more than 40 years of dealing with blazes, Mike Scullin of Running Springs, CA knows a thing or two about getting his community to face the risks of wildfire head on.
GO-BAG LIST
As Mike Scullin can attest to, fires can strike quickly and with little warning--especially in the wildland urban interface. So be prepared by making a 72-hour “grab and go“ bag and having it always ready in case of evacuation. And check out your local fire department or the National Fire Protection Association Firewise USA® program website for more tips on how to be fire ready.
If the power goes out or the smoke gets so thick it chokes out the light, you’ll want to be prepared with your own means of illumination.
Flashlights (extra batteries)
Having access to emergency communication is crucial, especially if the power goes out. And it’s not uncommon for cell towers to be damaged or destroyed in wildfires--which means you shouldn’t plan to rely on your smartphone. Enter the humble radio, an old-school technology that shines in emergency circumstances.
Radio (extra batteries)
During an evacuation you might not know where you’ll be sleeping, what kind of bed is available, and whether or not you’ll even have sheets. The answer to all that uncertainty is a sleeping bag. Pack a travel pillow for extra comfort.
Sleeping Bag
It can get cold at night, especially if you’re stuck sleeping in your car, tent, auditorium, or other ad hoc sleeping space. Staying warm with a blanket will help you sleep better and make your evacuation just that little bit more manageable.
Blankets
Wildfires are dangerous and evacuations can be chaotic. Your normal routines and your normal living spaces are all disrupted. That means your likelihood of injury is elevated--so you’ll want a first-aid kit on hand for any eventuality.
First Aid Kit
In an evacuation you might not know where you’ll be living or sleeping. Plus, the roads out are often clogged with hours and hours of traffic. Knowing you have water to drink gives you peace of mind, no matter what happens.
Water (3-day supply)
Like with water, so with food. You’ll want food that can last without refrigeration--this generally means prepackaged or canned food (don’t forget the can opener!).
Food (3-day supply)
We’re talking everything you need for your normal routine--toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, makeup and hair products, even spare toilet paper. Don’t forget feminine hygiene products, too.
Toiletry Supplies
Wildland fires can scatter burning embers, ash, and smoke for miles and miles--and even change weather patterns. Goggles will help protect your eyes in case conditions go south.
Goggles
Be sure to grab critical medication, especially when it’s necessary to your health and well-being. And don’t forget pet medication, too!
Medication
It’s easy to forget the little things when you’re rushing out in an evacuation. But having your eyeglasses on hand will make your life that little bit easier.
Eyeglasses
You don’t know how long you will be away from your normal living space in an evacuation, so it’s best to be prepared for an extended stay somewhere else. That means cash and credit cards for unexpected purchases and expenses.
Money (Credit Cards / Cash)
In a scenario where your house or apartment has the potential to burn down, you’ll want to grab important legal documents and IDs. Having mortgage or insurance paperwork, for instance, will make your life a whole lot easier if your home suffers damage or loss.
Important Documents
Thinking ahead of time about what items are most important or valuable to you will not only make an evacuation less stressful, it will also make your recovery that much less difficult, too. In fact, some families in particularly at-risk areas store their most valuable items in storage units outside the fire zone during fire season.
Sentimental items
As tired and afraid as you may feel during a wildfire, imagine how it must feel from your pet’s perspective. Having all the tools you need to keep your pet safe, controlled, and as happy as possible will help both of you get through this difficult time.
And remember: your pet will need to eat, too!
And remember: your pet will need to eat, too!
Pet (Carrier / Leash / Food)
Episode 2
Summer on the Line
When fires break out in wilderness areas, brave wildland firefighters like Ashley Johnson are first on the scene. It’s their job to keep these blazes from making the nightly news. But doing so requires constant vigilance, grit, and the willingness to put their lives at risk to protect their communities.
The Importance
of “Defensible
Space”
of “Defensible
Space”
If fire hits your area, having “defensible space“ around your home could be a matter of life or death. “Defensible space“ refers to a cleared area of 30 to 100 feet around a home, depending on the terrain, where the homeowner has reduced fuels like dry grass, weeds, and low-hanging tree limbs that can feed fires.
Immediate zone (0-5 Feet)
Intermediate zone (5-30 Feet)
Extended zone (30-200 Feet)
The area directly around the house should be completely cleared of possible fuel. Weeds, long grass, shrubs, trees, and any other flammable material must be removed.
-
Don’t forget to:
- Clean gutters and roofs of all materials that could catch embers.
- Replace or repair any loose or missing roof tiles or shingles to prevent embers from starting fires.
- Install 1/8 inch metal mesh screening on windows and vents or open-air areas beneath patios to decrease the possibility of embers that could accumulated in these open spaces.
Trees and shrubs should have at least 18 feet between tree tops to avoid the possibility of a fire jumping from crown to crown--and then to your roof. Low-hanging tree limbs should be “popsicled“--that is, removed so as to leave only the trunk for the first six to ten feet from the ground.
-
Don’t forget to:
- Create fuel breaks using sidewalks, driveways, or walkways.
- Mow lawns to a height no greater than four inches.
- Remove vegetation under trees that could allow a fire to ”ladder up“ to reach a tree crown.
The goal here is to use landscaping to break up the fire and keep it small and close to the ground. Removing dead trees, limbs, plant material, and other ground debris goes a long way in reducing a fire’s size and intensity.
-
Don’t forget to:
- Space trees 30 to 60 feet from the home so there is least 12 feet between canopy tops.
- Space trees 60 to 100 feet from the home so there is at least 6 feet between the canopy tops.
- Remove any flammable material, especially next to storage sheds or outbuildings.
Episode 3
From the Ashes
The Mendocino Complex fires of 2018 made the devastating leap from wilderness to neighborhood in the Lakeport, CA area--razing entire blocks, damaging schools, and disrupting thousands of lives. Now, just weeks later, smoke damage is being scrubbed and homes are being rebuilt, but for many survivors the emotional trauma is not so easily mended. And yet by working together the people of Lakeport are beginning to move on, giving hope to thousands of other Americans across the country who are recovering from fire.
Causes of Wildfires
90%
HUMANS
10%
NATURAL CAUSES
Humans can cause wildfires by leaving campfires unattended, burning debris, negligently discarded cigarettes and intentional acts of arson.
The most common way that natural causes start wildfires are from lightning or lava.
The most common way that natural causes start wildfires are from lightning or lava.
Sources: The Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and the National Interagency Fire Center
53,569 FIRES
Average number of fires per year recorded on federal lands from 2008-2017
$2,918,165,000
Total amount of federal dollars spent on wildland firefighting in 2017 (suppression only).
43M
Number of homes as of 2010 that are located in what scientists call the "wildland-urban interface," defined as the area where residential homes are built on or near wildland vegetation, such as trees and shrubs.
10,026,086 ACRES
Total number of federal acres burned by wildland fires in 2017 alone.
Fighting the
Elements
Elements
Stories of
the Storm
the Storm
Stories of Service