Although most fires are extinguished when small, a fire that evades initial suppression attempts may spread and trigger a complex operational response. At this point, hundreds of firefighters, engines, and air tankers seemingly appear out of nowhere, using jargon-filled tactics to limit the damage to communities and sensitive resources. In this webinar, you will hear about how fire operations and levels of response are assembled, what you can expect if you are in a potentially affected area, as well as some ideas for how you can make firefighters’ jobs easier and safer if they need to protect your home.
Originally aired on June 2, 2021
Presenters: Daniel Leavell (OSU Extension Statewide Fire Specialist); Kelly Burns, Battalion Chief (Ashland Fire & Rescue); Jennifer Case (Klamath Unit, Oregon Department of Forestry)
Resources
When Wildfire Strikes: A Handbook for Homeowners and Communities in Southwest Oregon
Northwest Fire Science Consortium's Fire Facts: What is? Incident Command System
University of Oregon's The Fire Story Podcast, Episode 4: Fire Response/The Logistical Side
CDC, Safety During a Wildfire, Wildfires | Ready.gov
Disaster Safety, What to Do if a Wildfire is Approaching
Air Now Fire and Smoke Map, Fire and Smoke Map
NOAA NWS, Fire Weather
FEMA app, https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-app-text-messages
Call to Action
1) Make sure access (ingress and egress) and evacuation routes are cleared of shrubs on each side, well-marked, with turn-arounds, if possible.
2) Clear roofs of accumulated needles and other organic debris from overstory trees and winds.
3) Keep debris from piling up around the structures.
4) Determine how to receive (or look for) evacuation information.
5) Establish a “phone-tree” within your neighborhood or community.
