Inevitable

Managing Megafires: Lessons from California’s Natural Resources Agency

Jun 5, 2023
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ADVICE

Do Home Hardening To Prevent Ember Ignitions

  • Harden homes and create defensible space to stop ember-driven ignitions that burn houses from the inside out.
  • Houses built to Chapter 7A codes after 2008 survived about 60% versus 10% for older homes in Paradise, so upgrade roofs, vents, windows and landscaping.
ADVICE

Use Fuel Breaks For Evacuation And Firefighting

  • Build strategic shaded fuel breaks around and along roads to reduce flame length and create evacuation and firefighter staging corridors.
  • Example: Eight-mile fuel break near Paradise left trees green on one side and black on the other and reduced flame heights from 150 to 15 feet at Tahoe.
INSIGHT

Protecting Forests Protects California Water

  • Landscape-scale treatments protect both ecosystems and water infrastructure because Sierra watersheds store and release water; high-severity fires degrade soil and water retention.
  • Example: 60% of California's water starts in the Sierra and hydrophobic soils after Dixie prevented infiltration.
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