The devastation caused by the Australian fires is overwhelming and it’s hard to even comprehend what a fire like that would do to our world in Otago.
Fire Season and some Food for Thought
I recently listened to a 99% Invisible podcast episode called ‘Built to Burn’. The guest speaker was Jack Cohen an experienced Forest Service research scientist who has spent a lifetime studying fire behaviour. He had a lot of interesting things to say.
1. During California’s Panorama fire in 1980 hundreds of houses caught fire long before the fire front ever reached their neighbourhood.
2. Embers that were lofted downwind ahead of the main body of the fire set wood shingle roofs alight. Embers also collected on wooden decks, in gutters full of leaves and attics with open vents.
3. Historically, wildfires had burned regularly (pre-human inhabitation), so when there were fires, they were low-intensity and stayed on the forest floor. Modern fire suppression has stopped this natural cycle.
4. Cohen developed a new way of managing fires through effective housing design and managing the “home ignition zone.”
- 10-30 metres: keep trees sparse.
- 10 metres: use landscape and design to minimise fuel loading this means getting rid of long grass and not having your woodpile next to your house.
- 2 metres: Stop the fire dead with rock gardens and irrigated lawns. Make sure your gutters are kept clean, stow BBQ’s and outdoor furniture safely, if you have vents in your attic ensure you can close them and ensure your garage door has a tight seal around it. Of course, using materials with a low fire risk to build your house also helps.
According to Cohen If we managed our home ignition zones, we wouldn’t have to fight forest fires, we could let them burn. I’d be interested to know what other people think of this idea.
Other Resources to help you stay safe during Fire Season
The Fire and Emergency NZ have excellent guides and checklists on their website: See:
Another great resource is the ‘create your own escape plan’ at www.escapemyhouse.co.nz. Answer a few simple questions and you’ll get your personalised plan sent to your inbox which you can then share with your family or flatties.
As always, if you have any questions or anything else to add in regards to staying safe during fire season and whether we should just let wildfires burn email sarah@employmenow.co.nz or call 0272 007 680.
Have a safe and productive week.
Best,
SB