National Interagency Fire Center’s Post

Wildfires often begin unnoticed. They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees, and homes. Reduce your risk by preparing now. Meet with your family to decide what to do and where to go if wildfires threaten your area. Follow these steps to protect your family, home, and property. https://ow.ly/2qas50PBuTW #OurMissionIsYou #WildfireSafety

#Wildfires have raged across North America in 2023, bringing devastating loss of life, property, and air quality. What will you do if a wildfire strikes in your area? You may need to be your own first responder. Here's how to prepare for an emergency👇

🔥 High Wind Seasons Increase Wildfire Risks 🔥 In the face of escalating wildfires in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, fueled by drought and fire weather, let's prioritize safety during high wind seasons. 🌬️ The National Weather Service issued High Wind Warnings for East Tennessee, predicting winds between 25-40 mph with gusts up to 85 mph. This amplifies the wildfire threat near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 🏡 Proactive Measures Matter! 🛠️ It's never too late to take DIY steps to protect your home. Clear debris, trim overhanging branches, and create defensible space around your property. Install ember resistant vents for added safety. 🤝 For those who prefer professional assistance, reach out to Allied Disaster Defense . Our wildfire assessments provide a clear plan to help safeguarded your home against wildfires and other disasters. Your safety is our top priority! #WildfireSafety #HighWindAwareness #HomeDefense #AlliedDisasterDefense https://lnkd.in/g5zBuxtc

Our governments are accountable to provide proactive wildfire mitigation and response. New technologies, strategies and tactics must be implemented to make a meaningful and measurable difference this season. As Fire & Flood demonstrated in the 2023 season. Our lives, properties and environment depend on it. . . #wildlife #proactive #flood #fire #firefloodemergency #accountability #government #emergencyresponse https://lnkd.in/gFDP3-YC

Did you know there are 148 active fires in Canada? The threat of wildfires is more pressing than ever. Zombie or overwintering fires continue to smoulder and re-ignite from dormant embers or underground roots from previous fire seasons. Visit FireSmart Canada to learn how you can contribute to wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts. Visit firesmartcanada.ca to get involved. 🌲🔥 #FireSmart #WildfirePrevention #ForestProtection

It has been a long week of fire on top of an already long year of fire. On Saturday I drove along Highway 5A with Kelly Johnston near Kamloops, British Columbia with a closeup view of the Ross Moore Lake wildfire looming across the landscape. It was just one of many during BC’s record-breaking fire year. As we drove south, smoke clogged the air and the Air Quality Index reading shot up to hazardous. Sunday evening was the tragic news of the helicopter collision in Riverside County, California, adding to the list of firefighter and civilian wildfire-related deaths this year from around the globe. And over the past few days the shocking images of Maui burning emerged, with people fleeing and even more lives, homes, and history lost on this tropical island. The magnitude of the devastation can feel overwhelming and often at odds with our perception of "normal". We are left trying to understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what we can do. I began my work in the fire world to help communities learn about how to prepare for wildfires and minimize damage. For twenty years, I’ve been grateful to work alongside countless other professionals, community organizers, residents, and local leaders also dedicated to the mission of helping communities before, during, and after fires. Like a kaleidoscope making an intricate and beautiful pattern, there are so many of us working on this together. As the planet heats up, we are in a situation where we need to simultaneously do all we can to prepare for these events and reverse course to heal the planet. The task is large. Everyone has a role. We can grow the kaleidoscope even bigger. And there are resources to help. Here are a few where you can learn more: State wildfire planning resources: https://lnkd.in/gm3KT_TF Fire adapted communities: https://fireadapted.org/ Firewise USA: https://lnkd.in/gYPjvNMK

Avoiding wildfire disasters begins at home As a means of generating constructive dialogue about a complex issue your thoughts and perspectives on the following statement (and the entire article from which this was taken) are welcomed and encouraged. "Various options have been suggested for how to best protect communities against wildfires, including having more firefighters and equipment, forest thinning, and prescribed burning. All of these ideas (and others) have merit and should not be discounted, but the real root of the problem is that our at-risk communities are simply too flammable." https://lnkd.in/g_Qk9S6d

Hawaii reportedly downplayed threat of wildfires for years prior to Maui blaze A CNN investigation found that Hawaii had dismissed wildfires as an event that could cause widespread damage to the state. A 2022 report from the State of Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) ranked tsunamis and hurricanes as the two likeliest natural disasters to present a risk to Hawaiian citizens. Out of 10 types of natural disasters, wildfires were the lowest threat on the list, with the report simply stating that the risk from wildfires to humans was "low." Takeaway: You really have to factor Black Swan and Grey Rhino events into your risk register and perhaps more robust discussions need to take place about probability and impact rankings. As Benjamin Disraeli said: "What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least, generally happens", and the fact is that Noah built the Ark seven days before it rained. https://lnkd.in/d_akKk8N #wildfires #Hawaii #disasters #riskassessment

Embers and Wildfires: The Unseen Culprit and a Reliable Solution Wildfires can often feel like a force of nature beyond our control, reducing homes to ashes in their path and threatening the safety of communities. However, what most people don’t realize is that it’s not typically the wall of flames that causes the most property damage in wildfires, but rather the tiny, often overlooked embers. Understanding how wildfires spread and how these embers ignite structures can inform more effective strategies for protecting property, including innovative solutions like the waveGUARD™ exterior wildfire sprinkler spray system.   Understanding the Role of Embers in Wildfire Spread The dramatic images of large wildfire fronts roaring through landscapes can often mislead people into thinking that this frontal assault is the primary cause of property loss. In reality, it’s often embers—small, burning pieces of vegetation or construction materials—that are the main culprits.   These embers, or firebrands, are carried by the wind ahead of the main fire front, sometimes traveling miles from the original blaze. Once they land, these embers can ignite new fires if they find receptive fuels—dry leaves, twigs, or even the building materials of homes and other structures. Given the right conditions, these embers can smolder for hours, and they might find their way into the smallest vulnerabilities in a home’s defense, including vents, eaves, and uncovered gutters, igniting the property from within. https://lnkd.in/gjYXzxBZ

Wildfires burn approximately 350 million hectares annually worldwide, causing estimated annual losses of $70-$90 billion in the United States alone. The economic impact includes direct costs like firefighting and property damage, as well as indirect costs such as healthcare expenses due to smoke inhalation and disruptions to local economies. Governments globally have adopted comprehensive strategies to combat wildfires. In the U.S., the Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy, backed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to treat millions of acres of land to reduce wildfire risk. Private companies play a crucial role in wildfire defense. Companies like FlameSeal LLC and Colorado Firebreak offer specialized products and services such as fire retardants, firebreak construction, predictive technologies, and firefighting equipment. The global wildfire defense solution market is https://lnkd.in/gwHYEqVt expected to grow from USD 1,769.87 million in 2024 to USD 2,407.92 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.26%. The US & Canada market is projected to grow from USD 650.07 million to USD 864.20 million, while the China market is expected to increase from USD 143.01 million to USD 209.97 million, and the Europe market from USD 442.64 million to USD 584.40 million during the same period.