Dealing with bushfires / wildfires

[JDK]

I'm interested in knowledgeable comment on other countries/states/provinces responses to dealing with wildfires or bushfires. The following article covers Australia's unusual (perhaps unique?) approach with self-defended properties.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/histor ... -85xt.html

I'd very much appreciate feedback from our North Americans.

Thanks.

[bdk]

Not being familiar with the terrain, were the Australian brushfires in the flatlands or in mountainous/hilly regions?

In the southern California areas there are a lot of houses in the hills. The fires go up a slope with the wind rather rapidly, down a slope or against the wind rather slowly. Sometimes a fire can start and threaten a home in a matter of minutes so there isn't much warning, other times they rage for hours or even days before they threaten homes so there is time to move the family and many valuable possessions to a safe haven.

The worst SoCal fires typically occur during "Santa Ana" wind conditions. Winds come from the east from 25 to 70 MPH.

[bdk]

Not being familiar with the terrain, were the Australian brushfires in the flatlands or in mountainous/hilly regions?

In the southern California areas there are a lot of houses in the hills. The fires go up a slope with the wind rather rapidly, down a slope or against the wind rather slowly. Sometimes a fire can start and threaten a home in a matter of minutes so there isn't much warning, other times they rage for hours or even days before they threaten homes so there is time to move the family and many valuable possessions to a safe haven.

The arsonists (or kids playing with matches) typically start fires near residential areas so they can pop up without much warning.

The worst SoCal fires typically occur during "Santa Ana" wind conditions. Winds come from the east from 25 to 70 MPH.

[bdk]

Drat! Darned missing <EDIT POST> and <DELETE POST> buttons!

[CAPFlyer]

This policy works well with brush and bush fires which consist of more widespread vegetation and don't develop as often into "firestorms". Forest Fires, however are much more difficult to defend against by yourself unless you have created a large fire break around your home and put in place personal ember suppression systems like roof spray bars (something starting to catch on) and private wells to supply both your lawn watering system and roof spray bars. This allows you to use your spray bars and watering system during the arrival of the fire front to keep a blanket of protective water on your firebreak and roof, but in the case of a heavy forest fire (i.e. firestorm) the ambient temperature gets so high that self-ignition is possible, and this is what causes the loss of many structures.

Here in Texas they did a story not to long ago on some people in West Texas with the type of system I described above, and it seemed to work quite well.

[daveymac82c]

Hey James,

I never knew a policy like that was even set up. It's interesting that they say that staying in your house is even an option. But, I guess the fires down there are quite different from ours (maybe?). I tip my had to the people that stay and battle the fires, but I'd be so worried about... umm... the fire to think about doing that myself. I'd also be worried about running out of water to extinguish the little fires before they turn in to big ones.

On a side note, the footage I see of "water-bombers" are usually just hueys and the two Erickson Sky-cranes. I've heard that there's a bias towards the helo operations over fixed wing, but I just can't understand it. James, or anyone else down there, can you explain the situation and lack of fixed-wing bombers down there?

Obviously water is scarce and there are no lakes for immediate pick up, but in BC we also use a LOT of retardant that does not stop the fires, but really does slow them down.

When I see video of the forest fires down there I picture in my mind a couple DC-6's and some old Trackers (Firecats) dropping red retardant in front of the path of the fires. Is such an operation practical down there? Obviously it takes a significant amount of water to make the retardant, but wouldn't help? Do they already use retardant?

The thing is, Conair generally only deal with FOREST fires as opposed to BUSH fires. Is there a difference in the way they burn and spread?

I the wake of what is/was happening in Victoria state, I brains need to come together again and just see what might help with controlling the fires.

Would a couple of these help?

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-p ... 734985.jpg
Or these,
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-p ... 874558.jpg
or,
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-p ... 162790.jpg

And then there's..... (But where would we get the water from? It does have the capacity to carry retardant though...)
http://www.wildlandfire.com/pics/air23/ ... -mars2.jpg

Last one: "Wouldn't this be a welcome site, eh?"
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper ... dience.jpg


Cheers,

David

P.S. I don't know what to suggest about the stay and fight, or leave strategy. I honestly wouldn't want to abandon my house, but I would want to leave with my life. It must have been a tough call for all those effected.