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> No one likes their house burned down. Then trim vegetation from your house at least 30'/10m, and keep things tidy out to at least 100'/30m: * https://www.re

> No one likes their house burned down. Then trim vegetation from your house at least 30'/10m, and keep things tidy out to at least 100'/30m: * https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/get-ready/defensible-space/ https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/get-re... * https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Preparing-homes-for-wildfire https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/... Make sure there are no dries leaves or pine needles gathered in places, ensure that your attic vent is properly screened from embers, that flammable furniture (e.g., cushions) is not laying about too close to the house. Lots of simple, preventative measures that people can do to increase their odds.

Retric 5y ago
That’s really not enough, forest fires are basically distributed denial of service attack. A tiny spark which wouldn’t be a significant issue on it’s own can destroy a house when nobody is there actively protecting it. Clearing vegetation and material selection can make a huge difference, just don’t expect a normal house to be ok anywhere near a fire.
- throw0101a 5y ago
  Embers are actually the things that cause the most damage: * https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2015/03/does-your-wildfire-model-include-ember-zones https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2015/03/does-y... * https://ibhs.org/ibhs-news-releases/embers-cause-up-to-90-of-home-business-ignitions-during-wildfire-events/ https://ibhs.org/ibhs-news-releases/embers-cause-up-to-90-of... It seems that by dealing with anything on/near your structure that can be ignited by them can reduce risk by quite a lot.
lazide 5y ago
A big enough fire, which is what you get with tall, overcrowded trees, will set many houses on fire from hundreds of yards away - even if no embers or anything else land on the house. It is really amazing the amount of heat released, and how quickly, in one of these fires.
- throw0101a 5y ago
  The three main sources of ignition during a wildfire are embers, direct flame contact, and radiant heat. This is why the FPA and others have the three different zones, of particular distances, where they recommend doing particular things. House can survive large quantities of radiant heat: * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq6wy_tffpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq6wy_tffpg Quite often what happens with radiant heat is that it breaks a window, which then allows embers to go into the house and set it alight. Embers are actually the things that cause the most damage: * https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2015/03/does-your-wildfire-model-include-ember-zones https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2015/03/does-y... * https://ibhs.org/ibhs-news-releases/embers-cause-up-to-90-of-home-business-ignitions-during-wildfire-events/ https://ibhs.org/ibhs-news-releases/embers-cause-up-to-90-of... On the other hand radiant heat often kills people the most (e.g., through heat stroke).
- oceanplexian 5y ago
  It’s also pretty wasteful when you think about it. How much energy could we harness if we simply allowed logging and used the wood for heating, construction, or electricity.

Retric 5y ago

That’s really not enough, forest fires are basically distributed denial of service attack. A tiny spark which wouldn’t be a significant issue on it’s own can destroy a house when nobody is there actively protecting it. Clearing vegetation and material selection can make a huge difference, just don’t expect a normal house to be ok anywhere near a fire.

throw0101a 5y ago
Embers are actually the things that cause the most damage: * https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2015/03/does-your-wildfire-model-include-ember-zones https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2015/03/does-y... * https://ibhs.org/ibhs-news-releases/embers-cause-up-to-90-of-home-business-ignitions-during-wildfire-events/ https://ibhs.org/ibhs-news-releases/embers-cause-up-to-90-of... It seems that by dealing with anything on/near your structure that can be ignited by them can reduce risk by quite a lot.

lazide 5y ago

A big enough fire, which is what you get with tall, overcrowded trees, will set many houses on fire from hundreds of yards away - even if no embers or anything else land on the house. It is really amazing the amount of heat released, and how quickly, in one of these fires.

throw0101a 5y ago
The three main sources of ignition during a wildfire are embers, direct flame contact, and radiant heat. This is why the FPA and others have the three different zones, of particular distances, where they recommend doing particular things. House can survive large quantities of radiant heat: * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq6wy_tffpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq6wy_tffpg Quite often what happens with radiant heat is that it breaks a window, which then allows embers to go into the house and set it alight. Embers are actually the things that cause the most damage: * https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2015/03/does-your-wildfire-model-include-ember-zones https://www.intermap.com/risks-of-hazard-blog/2015/03/does-y... * https://ibhs.org/ibhs-news-releases/embers-cause-up-to-90-of-home-business-ignitions-during-wildfire-events/ https://ibhs.org/ibhs-news-releases/embers-cause-up-to-90-of... On the other hand radiant heat often kills people the most (e.g., through heat stroke).
oceanplexian 5y ago
It’s also pretty wasteful when you think about it. How much energy could we harness if we simply allowed logging and used the wood for heating, construction, or electricity.