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10-01-2009 Fire/Rescue Newsletter |
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Fire Rescue Newsletter - October '09
In recent years, wild forest fires have exploded in scale, frequency, and financial damage all over the world. Blame has been put on everything from El Nino to Global Warming, from fuel buildup to urban encroachment; even firefighters are blamed for not being adequately prepared. However, a real solution remains elusive.
The increasing cost of the damage is making assistance from the federal government less feasible, particularly when not a threat to federal land. Extensive individual insurance from fires, including insurance from fire damage and wall spray retardant / fire blocking gel, can cost in the range of $10,000 per year, a prohibitively high price for many people. Pre-suppression service can be obtained for much cheaper, but it does not offer anything in the event of a fire destroying your home.
Of all the locations on the planet, California is perhaps the most vulnerable to wildfires. In 2007, the “Angora” fire in South Lake Tahoe devastated the area, burning 254 homes, 3100 acres, and cost 11.7 million dollars to suppress.
Ultimately, an analysis was conducted after the fire that determined that the fire was weakest where brush and trees had been thinned, and houses built with fire-resistant materials generally survived intact. Assistance had been offered by the local fire district (prior to the fire) to many of the owners of houses that were ultimately destroyed.
While unfortunate, hopefully it will serve as a wake-up call to those in these high-risk areas. For now, the thing to do is to try to prepare for a potential fire. Homeowners should get a fire-proof coating on their home, and firefighters should wear top of the line equipment (such as HAIX Wildfire boots) when going up against a raging wildfire. |
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