Essay - Fire Science Introduction the Purpose of This Paper Is to...

FIRE SCIENCE

INTRODUCTION

***** purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the practice ***** fuels management in urban areas that might be affected by wildfire. Specifically, it will discuss the education of homeowners, and fuel management techniques that can reduce the risk of loss ***** property dur*****g a wildland fire.

With ***** proliferation of urban areas encroaching on wilderness areas, wildfire now is a much more common threat ***** homes and property. "Since 1970, more than 10,000 homes ***** 20,000 other structures and facilities have been lost to severe wildl***** fire" (Editors). Drought throughout the country has dried out forests, making them ***** more susceptible to *****. Wildland ********** can be caused by any num*****r of events, some natural, and some man-made.

Lightning is a common source of fire in ***** vegetation. It is a we*****ther phenomenon that is associated with both frontal and convectional movements of air. Lightning ***** depends on the presence ***** dry organic materials, ei*****r in dry climates or in dry seasons (Heady and Child 108).

WILDLAND FIRE DEFENSE FOR HOMEOWNERS

Homeowners must be educated in wildland fire safety to help ensure their property is at less r*****k during a wildfire. "The principal link between social and biophysical systems is not geographic, he said, but functional, and it consists of how people use natural re*****s" (Backes 149). Recently, t***** Structure Ignition Assessment Model (SIAM) has been used as a tool to educate homeowners in fire risk. "The SIAM uses an analytical modeling approach to account for variables such as type of structure, terrain, fuel and local weather patterns to give homeowners a sense ***** the risk ********** face ***** possible ways of protection" (Ewert, C*****z and Magill 10). ***** authors go on to say, "Reduced to its simplest terms, the *****-***** interface ***** problem is a result of fire-prone homes, ***** structures, and facilities built and maintained in a manner that leaves them -- and ***** occupants or users -vulnerable to wildfire" (Ewert, Chavez and ***** 354)

There are numerous measures homeowners can use ***** protect their property, beginning with removing vegetation in a radius around the house. This creates a defensible space around ***** home. The actual defensible space needed depends on the slope ***** ***** surround*****g the home, and can be calculated at this web site: http://www.extension.unr.edu/fire/cre*****ing.html. If*****re is dense forest surrounding the home, it should ***** thinned to allow space ***** trees ***** shrub growth, so the fire does ***** have dense fuel. Any dead grasses or undergrowth should be cut down and removed. "Locate firewood and other combustible debr***** (wood scraps, grass clippings, leaf piles, etc.) at least 30 feet uphill from the house" (Living With Fire).

Homes and roofs should ***** constructed of fire retardant materials. *****re should be a buffer of l*****wn, ice plant, or ***** "wet" landscaping immediately surrounding ***** structure. "Emphasize use ***** mulches, rock, and non-combustible hard surfaces (concrete sidewalks, brick patios, and asphalt driveways)" (Living With Fire). "Mown [lawn] edges can also maintain