New Millenium Wildfires: Paradigm Shifts for the 21 st Century: Assessing the Home Ignition Zone February 13, 2013 Austin, Texas Hank Blackwell Wildfire Solutions, LLC

“Changes” in Wildfire Human/Structural Encroachment Human/Structural Encroachment Climate Cycles Climate Cycles Wildfire Intensity Wildfire Intensity Structural Losses Structural Losses “Megafires” “Megafires” International Wildfire Events International Wildfire Events –U.S., Australia, Europe

Forest Health and Wildfire Policies Experience Technology New Information

What Is A Healthy Forest?

Public Perceptions Wildfire reputation Wildfire reputation Characteristics Characteristics Myths Myths Role of victim Role of victim Suppression mindset Suppression mindset Prevention issues Prevention issues

Myths Capricious Nature of Fire Capricious Nature of Fire Helplessness Helplessness Fire Department Protection Fire Department Protection Stringent Codes Stringent Codes Wildfires don’t happen ‘here’ Wildfires don’t happen ‘here’ I have insurance I have insurance

Wildland-Urban Interface The WUI is not a physical location, but a set of conditions The WUI is not a physical location, but a set of conditions

While we specifically focus on the problem of residential fire losses during wildland fires we should during wildland fires we should recognize that sustaining ecosystems, and the many values we derive for those ecosystems, is a principal concern. Perspective

Forest Health, Climate and Fire Intensity Fire Physics Personnel Safety & Effectiveness Resident’s Responsibiliy Stakeholder Roles

Current Strategy & Tactics Life Safety Preplanning Interagency Operations & Suppression Reactive Strategies

Module 2 – Understanding W/UI Wildland Fire Rapid fire spread and/or High intensity Wildland Fire Rapid fire spread and/or High intensity Severe Fire Conditions Fuel, Weather, and Topography Severe Fire Conditions Fuel, Weather, and Topography OverwhelmedFireSuppression Too much fire and too few resources Reduced Fire Protection Lack of resources leads to reduced effectivenessDISASTER! Many homes totally destroyed Urban Fire Multiple, simultaneous ignitions

Paradigm Shifts

What We Have Learned? Wildfires are inevitable in fire adaptive ecosystems. Wildfires are inevitable in fire adaptive ecosystems. During large interface fires hundreds of structures an hour may be ignited. During large interface fires hundreds of structures an hour may be ignited. No fire suppression system in the world can stop losses from these large conflagrations. No fire suppression system in the world can stop losses from these large conflagrations. Many structural ignitions begin via ember accumulation Many structural ignitions begin via ember accumulation

Wildland Fire Rapid fire spread and/or High intensity Severe Fire Conditions Fuel, Weather, and Topography OverwhelmedFireSuppression Too much fire, Too few resources Reduced Fire Protection Lack of resources = Reduced effectivenessDISASTER! Many totally destroyed homes Urban Fire Multiple, simultaneous ignitions Stop the transition from the Wildland fire to an Urban fire and the likelihood of a Disaster is significantly reduced

Whole Community Concept Prevention Strategies & Missions Shared Responsibilities & Consequences Previously Successful Models PARTNERSHIPS!!

Miracle Vegetation

Structural Losses Can Be Prevented!!

 Fire does not spread to homes like an avalanche or flash flood where a mass engulfs objects in its path  Fire only spreads to locations along its path that meet the requirements for combustion – including homes Home Ignition Zone

Values Responders Policy Makers ConstituentsStakeholdersOpponents

These are tools for addressing fire control not for reducing home ignitability

“It’s the little things”

Ignition-Resistant Homes & Communities Independent Survivability Community Fuel Breaks Limited or No Structural Protection Stay or Go Issues

New W/UI Strategies & Tactics Home ignitions can be prevented by reducing structure ignitability—NOT by keeping wildfires from encroaching on W/UI areas! Home ignitions can be prevented by reducing structure ignitability—NOT by keeping wildfires from encroaching on W/UI areas! When structure ignitability is reduced, firefighting operations become safer and more efficient! When structure ignitability is reduced, firefighting operations become safer and more efficient!

Coalition Building Partnerships are a critical element for government, private and public sectors

Assessing the HIZ Paradigm Shifts Reintroduction of Fire Field Experience Resource & Information Sharing Facilitation & Coordination Communication & Coalition “Opportunity is often missed because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” -T. Edison-

New Paradigms Ignition-Resistant Communities Ignition-Resistant Communities Partnerships Partnerships Preventive Strategies Preventive Strategies Forest Health Forest Health Understanding Understanding –Fire Behavior & Forest Health –Limitations of Firefighters –Necessity of Coalitions

It’s the Little Things! Litter Litter Gardening/yardwork Gardening/yardwork Openings Openings Glowing Combustion Glowing Combustion Unattended Home Survival Unattended Home Survival

Assessments Peak to Eaves Eaves to Foundation Foundation to Immediate Area 30’-90’ Openings and penetrations Ember Accumulation Risks Big Fire, Small Flames, Ember Accumulation Ember Accumulation

Ignition resistant communities can reduce wildfire exposure to firefighters and reduce the life safety threat to residents.

Modern W/UI disasters have shown that firefighters cannot be at every threatened structure Modern W/UI disasters have shown that firefighters cannot be at every threatened structure For structures not to burn, they must resist ignition on their own For structures not to burn, they must resist ignition on their own If we are to affect a reduction in structures destroyed by wildfire, we must focus on reducing ignitibility of Home Ignition Zones If we are to affect a reduction in structures destroyed by wildfire, we must focus on reducing ignitibility of Home Ignition Zones Summary

Assessment Model Peak-Eaves-Foundation-1 st Tier Vegetation Peak-Eaves-Foundation-1 st Tier Vegetation Little Things Little Things –Most home ignitions have little or no direct flame contact –Ember accumulation/glowing combustion –“Miracle Vegetation” –Scientific Data

Module 4 – The Site Visit  Sustaining our ecosystems requires compatibility with fire.  Compatible communities require ignition resistant homes… we must take responsibility in our Home Ignition Zones!  Sustaining our ecosystems requires compatibility with fire.  Compatible communities require ignition resistant homes… we must take responsibility in our Home Ignition Zones! Recognize that fire is an ecosystem process

Module 4 – The Site Visit Treat the earth well, It was not given to you by your parents, It was loaned to you by your children. Indian Proverb Treat the earth well, It was not given to you by your parents, It was loaned to you by your children. Indian Proverb

Thank You! Hank Blackwell Hank Blackwell Thank You ! !