A report on the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century details steps communities can take to reduce the likelihood that grassland wildfires will turn into urban conflagrations.
FILE - Damaged property lies scattered in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 21, 2023. deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century
“We can start by hardening homes on the edge of the community, so a fast-moving grass fire never gets the opportunity to become embers” that can ignite other fires,Grass fires grow quickly but typically only send embers a few feet in the air and a short distance along the ground, Hedayati said. Burning buildings, however, create large embers with a lot of buoyancy that can travel long distances, he said.
One home that survived the fire was surrounded by about 35 feet of short, well-maintained grass and a paved driveway, essentially eliminating any combustible pathway for the flames. In other words, it’s all about connections and pathways, according to the report: Does the wildland area surrounding a community connect directly to homes because there isn’t a big enough break in vegetation? Are there flammable pathways like wooden fences, sheds or vehicles that allow flames to easily jump from building to building? If the flames do reach a home, is it built out of fire-resistant materials, or out of easily combustible...
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