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> I for one am not a defeatist that will let global warming beat me. Thinking about it in terms of victory and defeat isn't very helpful IMO. The reality is pr
by LurkingPenguin 5y ago
> I for one am not a defeatist that will let global warming beat me.
Thinking about it in terms of victory and defeat isn't very helpful IMO. The reality is pretty clear: humans need to adapt to climate change. We are already past the point of no return, and in places like California the effects of climate change are mounting at a faster rate than we can realistically mitigate them.
> We need to think of solutions to fires like this. 1. We need to apply Phos-Chek from ground based units. 2. Building codes need to be updated to only allow fire resistant structures in wildfire prone areas. 3. Inhabited locations in fire prone areas need need active fire suppression infrastructure around them (agricultural level irrigation at the ready). 4. Forest management around inhabited areas need to reduce forest fire fuel.
I'm an advisor and investor in a company that serves this market and while all of the things that you mention can help, they are not "solutions" per se. For example:
1. "Fire resistant" structures are not fire proof. Many rural homeowners in the most vulnerable areas don't have the income to make significant upgrades to their homes. A lot more funding for retrofit subsidies would be required and then you need adequate man power to run inspections and perform upgrades.
2. California already has water problems. "Agricultural level irrigation" in every rural community simply isn't realistic.
2. Forest management could definitely be improved, but it's costly and labor intensive. Where are you going to get the labor?
The sad truth is that a lot of places in California (and the Western US in general) are becoming uninhabitable. Lots of people will need to relocate, or they'll eventually be forced to.
- systemvoltage 5y agoClimate Change is only a small contributor of forest fires in California, there was a pretty lengthy discussion on HN last month: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28122867 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28122867 Direct source: https://news.berkeley.edu/2021/08/09/how-wildfire-restored-a-yosemite-watershed/ https://news.berkeley.edu/2021/08/09/how-wildfire-restored-a...
- LurkingPenguin 5y ago> I think climate change is no more than 20 to 25% responsible for our current fire problems in the state... A few percent is "small". Even if you agree with the claim, 20-25% would make climate change a significant contributor.
- fasteddie31003 5y agoHumans have the technology to build structures that can withstand wildfires. It's like saying we should not live in cold climates before we had good insulation. I can build a concrete or metal structure that would be fine in a wildfire. Mountains have access to tons of water during the winter. They just need to retain that water for wildfire season.
- LurkingPenguin 5y agoSince you're a software engineer in SF, I wouldn't be surprised if you have the financial ability to pay a homebuilder to build a concrete home in a rural, high-risk area. But even putting the costs aside (which are out of the reach of many/most California rural homeowners) do you have the ability (expertise, materials, LABOR) to demolish and rebuild thousands upon thousands of homes scattered throughout California? It's simply not as easy as having the "technology" and snapping your fingers. Forget building houses. Even finding someone to drill a well for you on short notice these days is next to impossible.