Forest fires are fairly common in California, and at present there are currently more than 50 burning across the Western U.S. However, the Rim fire is fairly large. It started on August 17th and currently spans more than 300 sq. miles, engulfing part of Yosemite National Park.
For some idea of the immense scale of the Rim fire, look at the satellite imagery from NASA, and for a fly over, watch this Pilot’s view video taken by a member of the California National Air Guard.
Currently the fire has led to the evacuation of 5,000 homes and levels of falling ash have threatened water supplies in the surrounding reservoirs (risks to water sources were acknowledged in an agreement between two US Government departments back in only July). One of three hydroelectric power stations in the region has been forced to close, threatening energy supplies to San Francisco, resulting in the city being put on a state of emergency, even though the fire remains 150 miles away. More than 3,500 fire-fighters are working to contain the Rim fire blaze, an effort which is so far reported to have cost $47 million. Nearly 3 weeks after the fire started it is now 80% contained.
Facts on global forest/bush fires:
- The most fatal wild fire over the past 10 years was the Australian bush fire of February 2009, which killed 180 people
- Since 2010 Emdat estimate that 54,855 people have been affected by forest fires
- Over $6 billion worth of damage is estimated to have been done in the same time period
(Many of us probably can’t imagine what it is like to experience a wildfire up close, check out the Interactive firestorm produced by The Guardian to get some idea.)
So how can technology help to predict, prepare for, and respond to wild fires?
Maps and apps – predicting and monitoring
As is the case with all disasters, improved preparedness and resilience is the best defence. A mix of topographical and meteorological information can be fed in to databases to allow fire risk to be calculated and mapped. The Texas Fire Risk Mapper platform allows users to assess the level of risk faced in their location, based upon current available data. The CSIRO fire spread calculator is an example of a piece of downloadable software designed for fire authorities in rural Australia. GIS technologies provide authorities with a toolbox of applications for tracking and predicting the movement of fires.
Bush fire planning technology combines locational data with planning regulations from the Australian Department of Planning and Community Development. These planning regulations aim to reduce the potential risk of the structure being in the path of a bush fire. A mobile app combines the surrounding environmental factors, such as slope gradient, of the exact location, with these regulations to produce a series of plans which a developer can then choose from.
For a more general situational view of an event, this Interactive map produced by GIS mapping company Esri has been tracking developments in California as they occur, mapping the spread and linking to situation reports and images of the blaze.
In Australia and New Zealand, the “Fires near me” iPhone App is designed to alert people to local fire activity. The app also strengthens efforts to reduce the risk of fires starting by disseminating information on preventative Total Fire Bans issued by the New South Wales Government.
These platforms range from providing an interesting insight to events as they unfold, to delivering critical communications to those potentially at risk.
Communication during evacuations
It is vital that Communication needs of first responders are met to insure that emergency situations can be managed effectively. Studies showing the role of communications during wildfire evacuations in improving stressful situations highlight that situations in which communication levels between authorities and community residents are high result in the fire management being perceived more positively. Events in which the main information source is from the media tend to create a far more stressful situation for residents.
The use of social media, usually seen as an important tool for communications within disasters, was questioned recently. Avoiding social media would help stop the spread of unnecessary panic it was claimed by one Fire chief, who criticised the spreading of rumours and hearsay over social media platforms.
Drone technology – the bright side?
A controversial piece of kit which often faces fierce opposition for some of its applications, drone technology has a valuable role to play in monitoring wildfires. Remotely controlled from safe zones and with flight times of up to 22 hours at a time, drones can give fire responders an unique view of where a fire may be moving and importantly to allow the identification of new flares before they have chance to develop.
Taking this bird’s eye view a stage higher, satellite imagery also has a beneficial role to play. Multisensory images provide an insight into the internal makeup of the fire, where it is burning most intensely, and how this relation to the other factors could influence decisions.
A number of Fire Fighting Technologies also capitalise on advances in surveillance technology to create innovative systems for early warning and fire management interventions.
To conclude
The Rim fire in California is slowly being contained, and despite the costs of managing it, this fire won’t rank highly in terms of loss of life or property. Wildfires will continue to occur, and some will have a greater impact upon populations than others. As for all disasters, technologies can help support robust and effective lifesaving responses.
Photo Credits: [Top] By U.S. Department of Agriculture, via Flickr; [Middle] By NASA Goddard Photo and Video, via Flickr.