Preparing for the Future (It's Here)
The Highest Priority is Protecting Lives
Droughts with high wind events, without, or with high temperatures, are leading to extreme fire behavior, with extremely rapid growing fires we have not
seen before, in forests and wildlands, and in cities. Citizens everywhere need a plan to take personal responsibility for their family's safety.
All Citizens and Families Need an Emergency Plan: They need their own plan
similar to wildland firefighter's daily LCES (lookouts,communication,escape routes, and safety zones) requirements.
A simple plan made by all citizens ,rural and urban, young and old, would increase margins of safety, and reduce injury.We simply need to consider:
Safety zones
Escape routes
Early Warning systems
( Paradise California is getting a siren warning system Link)
For Wildland Firefighters establishing: Lookouts
Communication,
Escape Routes,and
Safety Zones,
(LCES) is a required daily Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Communication,
Escape Routes,and
Safety Zones,
(LCES) is a required daily Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
A similar framework for all citizens will increase margins of safety when wildfires occur.
All families, all residents, need to always keep in mind their nearest Safety Zone and the Escape Route to the safety zone.
At home. At work. At school. At the gym or shopping. Wherever you are. Where is the closest
fuel free area?
Safety Zones-
Schools will often be the safest place from a fast moving fire. Any large open areas with large parking lots, business and shopping areas. Parks, playgrounds, or sports fields could be a good buffer zone (maybe only temporarily
to let the flame front pass).
A Safety Zone is simply an area with less continuous fuel. Less trees or less houses right next together. Shopping areas, green grassy parks, schools, churches,...( look at the satellite view on google maps).
Airports, fairgrounds.
Escape Routes- Simply how do you get from where you are to your best Safety Zone option
Escape Routes- Simply how do you get from where you are to your best Safety Zone option
Warning Systems- Simple is better. Siren warnings (Think Tornado Sirens) carry many miles.
Cell phone use may be lost quickly, as with electricity.
Cell phone use may be lost quickly, as with electricity.
Break down of emergency notifications plans occurred with the Napa fires 2017, the 2018 Camp Fire(see Lessons Learned below) and Almeda Fires in 2020.
Multiple layers should be used :sirens, radio, tv, cell phone alerts...
Fire Departments and local governments could encourage this campaign of preplanning.
Many "Wildfire Evacuation Route" signs are posted in some cities.
Preplanned "Wildfire Safety Zones" should be marked as well.
Plan to take some time to review the following links to glean ideas useful for your community and family.
Early Warning Systems being developed:
NASA LIFELINES ORG:
Where will the West's next deadly wildfire strike? The risks are everywhere
Thousands of other towns could face wildfires like the Camp Fire . Article by Pamela Ren Larson,
from USA Today and Az Central. Link
Evacuation plans in the rural town of Hayfork, California include ordering residents to move to the
Trinity County fairgrounds, in a corner of town where there is plenty of open space to buffer
the residents from flames, says the fire battalion chief. Across the street is the airport that provides
even more space for protection. Yes, a "Safety Zone".
www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/2019/07/22/wildfire-risk-hayfork-california/1645574001/
Evacuation plans in the rural town of Hayfork, California include ordering residents to move to the
Trinity County fairgrounds, in a corner of town where there is plenty of open space to buffer
the residents from flames, says the fire battalion chief. Across the street is the airport that provides
even more space for protection. Yes, a "Safety Zone".
www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/2019/07/22/wildfire-risk-hayfork-california/1645574001/
A Simple, Reliable, Unmistakable Evacuation Notice Works: Hi/Lo Sirens
Example of Hi/Lo Siren videos: Santa Barbara, California https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFX-mvLGr9k
Nevada County California https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWNxYtcuWDA
California Legislature passes bill to allow ‘hi-lo’ sirens to signal evacuations
The Press Democrat 8/31/2020
Paradise, California is installing 21 Evacuations Sirens with FEMA $
Story from KRCR: Link
