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FAQ » Wildfires -- Terminology and Causes
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Wildfires -- Terminology and Causes
Terms Used in Describing Wildfires
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Surface Fires - the most common type of
wildfires, surface fires move slowly and burn along the forest floor,
killing and damaging vegetation.
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Ground Fires - usually started by lightning,
ground fires burn on or below the forest floor through the root
system.
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Crown Fires - crown fires spread by wind
moving quickly along the tops of trees.
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Santa Ana Winds - "Santa Ana" is the
name given to the gusty northeast or east wind that occurs in Southern
California during the fall and winter months. Santa Ana winds are often
hot and very dry, greatly aggravating the fire danger in forests and
bush lands.
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Conflagration - a large and destructive fire,
typically aggravated by strong winds that carry firebrands over natural
or artificial barriers.
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Dry Thunderstorm - typically a thunderstorm
with a high altitude base where thunder and lightning are observed, but
little or no rain reaches the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where
can wildfires occur?
Wildfires can occur anywhere.
Q: How
many acres of U.S. woodland burn every year?
An average of 1.2 million acres of U.S. woodland burn
every year.
Q: Are
people responsible for wildfires?
People cause more than four out of every five
wildfires.
Q: What
natural conditions contribute to the occurrence of wildfires?
Weather conditions such as lightning strikes or an
extended dry spell or drought contribute to the availability of fuel
that can directly contribute to the occurrence of wildfires.
Q: Can
a large wildfire modify local weather conditions?
A large wildfire, or conflagration, is often capable
of modifying the local weather conditions or producing "its own
weather."
Q: What
kinds of human behavior are common causes of forest fires?
Negligent human behavior such as smoking in forested
areas and improperly extinguishing campfires are common causes of forest
fires.
Q: How
can you know if your area is prone to seasonal wildfires?
Check the incidence of wildfires in your area. Check
the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) that is based on the impact of
both temperature and precipitation for your region or the Keetch-Byram
Drought Index that indicates deficit inches of available water in the
soil and is used by the USDA Forest Service Wildland Fire Assessment
System.
Q: How
can you anticipate wildfires?
Be aware that periods of drought or unusually low
precipitation increase the likelihood of severe wildfires. If it has
been a mild winter, or if your area is experiencing dry season,
especially with high winds, exercise extra caution when in contact with
any flammable materials.
Q: How
can you prevent wildfires?
Follow the advice of local officials.
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If they ban outdoor fires, obey their advice and
encourage neighbors to do the same.
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Build fires away from nearby trees or bushes. Ash
and cinders may be blown into surrounding areas, starting
wildfires.
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Always have a way to extinguish the fire quickly
and completely. If the fire becomes threatening, you will need to
extinguish it immediately.
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Never leave a fire - even a cigarette - burning
unattended. Fire can quickly spread out of control
Q: How will
you be warned?
There currently is no way to forecast wildfire
outbreaks, so it is critically important to plan ahead and remove
potential hazards. Because wildfire can change direction and speed
suddenly, a minor threat can quickly escalate into a major threat. If
you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area, listen
regularly to The Weather Channel, your local TV or radio station, or
NOAA Weather Radio. If evacuation is advised, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF
LOCAL OFFICIALS, as the safest escape route may be different from what
you expect.
Q: What
do you have to know if your area is prone to wildfires?
Be informed:
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Contact your local American Red Cross Chapter for
your chapter number or check the business listing of your white
pages.
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Determine your insurance eligibility now. Contact
your insurance agent. Find out more from your insurance agent,
National Insurance Consumer Helpline (1-800-942-4242), and The
Insurance Information Institute (1-800-331-9146).
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Learn how your town handles emergencies by
contacting your local fire department, forestry service or local
emergency services agencies (EMA).
Q: When
should you prepare your property if you are in a fire-prone area?
Prepare your property before the season.
Q: What
should a Family Disaster Plan include?
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The plan should include
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Decide where to go if at home, school, work,
outdoors, or in a car if faced with a weather emergency. Update
these plans every school year and as places of employment and
residence change.
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Designate a friend or relative outside your town
as your contact in the event you are separated from family members.
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Agree upon a place where family members can meet
if separated.
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Make sure Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit is
up-to-date.
Q: Where
can you get information on a Family Disaster Supplies Kit?
For more information on assembling and refreshing
supplies, contact the American Red Cross for their Disaster Supplies Kit
brochure.
Q: How
should you prepare your home?
Follow these steps:
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Create a 30 to 100 foot safety zone around your
home to separate the home from combustible vegetation.
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Stone walls act as heat shields to deflect
flames.
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Swimming pools and patios can be a safety
zone.
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Use tile, stucco, metal siding, brick, concrete
block, rock, or other fire-resistant materials on roofs.
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Use only thick, tempered safety glass in large
windows and sliding glass doors.
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Install electrical lines underground, if
possible. Regularly clean roofs and gutters.
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Install a smoke detector on each level of your
home, especially near bedrooms. Test them monthly and change the
batteries at least once a year.
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Keep handy household items that can be used as
fire tools such as a rake, axe, chain saw, bucket, and
shovels.
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Have several garden hoses long enough to reach
any area of the home and surrounding vegetation.
Q: How
should you prepare the inside of your home?
Take these steps:
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Close all windows, vents, doors, window coverings
and heavy drapes to prevent a draft.
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Open fireplace damper and close fireplace
screens.
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Move flammable furniture into the center of the
home away from windows and sliding glass doors.
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If hoses and adequate water are available, leave
sprinklers on roofs and anything that might be damaged by fire.
Q: How
should you prepare the outside of your home?
Follow these steps:
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Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood
or commercial seals.
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Turn off any propane tanks. (e.g. grill) Place
combustible patio furniture inside
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Place waterproofed valuables in a pool or
pond.
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Connect garden hoses to outside taps. Use only if
you have not been advised to leave and you have time to wet the roof
and outdoor shrubs.
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Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near above
ground fuel tanks. Wet the roof.
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Wet shrubs within 15 feet of the home.
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Gather fire tools.
Q: What
should you check when wildfire threatens?
- If wildfire threatens your area, be sure to check the following
before leaving your home. Remember, a shift in the wind can easily
change the direction the fire spreads and it might be in your
direction.
- Be ready to evacuate all family members and pets when fire nears
or when instructed to do so by local officials.
- Confine pets to one room. Make plans to care for your pets in case
you must evacuate.
- Back your car into the garage facing the direction of escape. Shut
doors and roll up windows, but leave them unlocked. Leave keys in
the ignition.
YOU CANNOT OUTRUN A FIRE!
Q: What happens if
you get caught?
Don't try to outrun the fire:
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Crouch in a pond or river.
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Cover your head and upper body with wet
clothing.
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If water is not around, look for shelter in a
cleared area or among a bed of rocks.
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Lie flat and cover your body with wet clothing or
soil.
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Breathe the air closest to the ground through a
wet cloth to avoid scorching your lungs or inhaling smoke
Q: What
should you do after the wildfire?
It's important to wait until your local emergency
personnel have announced it's safe to return home. Then, use only
recommended routes and take the following steps.
Q: What
are the hazards after a wildfire?
Everywhere you go, there are potential hazards:
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Be careful walking on smoldering surfaces. After
a fire the ground may contain heat that can cause severe injury, or
spark another fire.
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Stay away from damaged buildings until inspectors
have given you the green light.
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If your home has been spared, keep children and
pets inside.
Q: What
are the psychological effects of surviving a wildfire?
In addition to the obvious physical damage, the
devastation of fire can sometimes cause emotional trauma and distress.
Crisis counseling can help.
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Should you or your family need or desire crisis
counseling, contact your local American Red Cross Chapter for
information about resources in your area.
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Address your problems one at a time. Preparation
may help you save lives and avoid injury. The rest can be
rebuilt.
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