The Forefront of Firefighting – The Future is Now  

Technology/Innovation
Written By Erin Jewell

By Mel Bearns

The horrendous fires that ravaged Southern California in January were unprecedented in their scope and ferocity. A nightmare scenario unfolded due to a combination of everything firefighters fear: drought conditions, an abundance of extremely dry vegetation, and seasonal Santa Ana winds that were supercharged and reached up to 90 mph in some places. These elements, coupled with the proximity of dense urban development to open spaces, were all the ingredients required for a perfect firestorm. 

The rapid spread of the fires taxed one of the nation’s most well-prepared and elite firefighting forces. Despite reservoirs that were filled to capacity, the sheer number of fire engines drawing water simultaneously caused many hydrants to run dry. Extremely high winds at the outset grounded air abatement efforts and helped spread embers miles outward, sparking more outbreaks and making containment impossible. Local firefighting departments received backup from teams as far north as Canada, and elite firefighters from Mexico also came to assist. And then finally, on January 31st, 24 days after the Palisades fire started, the most destructive conflagration in Los Angeles history was 100% contained.   

Scientists and firefighting experts agree that the rapid warming and severe weather fluctuations brought about by global climate change are accelerating and causing more intense and devastating fires. Looking ahead at a warming planet and what can be done to be better prepared and stop fires from becoming increasingly more destructive is at the forefront of mitigation, suppression and planning. 

Address Development Encroachment 

Experts predict that the warming trend exacerbated by climate change will continue on an upward trend as it has for the past 40 years. In California alone, the state most widely associated with devastating fires, it is predicted that huge wildfires could become up to 50% more frequent in the next 75 years.  

As the population has grown, communities have sprawled ever outwards to abut grasslands, forests, and other wild landscapes that have always been subject to fire, exponentially increasing the potential for massive loss of structures and human life. This wildland-urban interface is an area where immediate changes can be put into effect and include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Pause new developments in the regions that encroach on wildlands and forests and protect open spaces. 

  • Evaluate the risk of re-building in areas that have suffered from catastrophic fires. 

  • Use non-combustible building materials. 

  • Clear vegetation is needed to create defensible space around existing structures, as well as strategically thin trees and brush.  

Revisit Forest Management Policies 

For decades, the dominant strategy for dealing with wildfires was to prevent them or fight them whenever they occurred. Short-sighted fire suppression has led to forests being clogged with plant materials and dead trees that fuel bigger, hotter, and more destructive blazes instead of allowing a more natural process of less-severe wildfires to cycle through the landscape. 

Logging has also played a major part in driving a flawed view that cutting down more trees or removing burnt logs will reduce risk. Traditional logging targets the largest, most mature and fire-resistant trees. Which then depletes the parts of forests that are key to lessening the threat of fire. Flawed policies have led to the removal of dead trees and snags that are important to support biodiversity and serve as the ecological substrate for forests that have greater variety and are more resistant to fires. 

  • Ideally, we should shift from a strategy of stopping all fires to managing fire risk to protect people and property. This requires us to recognize that some fire is normal, healthy, and necessary. 

  • Allowing smaller fires to run their course will essentially create fire breaks, preventing future fires from becoming massive disasters. 

  • Improve forest resilience by ending deforestation and forest degradation. 

Adopt and Incorporate Innovative Fires Suppression Technologies 

All indications point to the fact that fires will continue to occur and potentially be greater and fiercer due to climate change. In order for firefighters to be better prepared, advancements in strategies, tactics, and technology are required to give them more and better tools. 

Here are several technologies at the forefront to aid firefighters: 

  •  Water mist systems are rapidly taking over conventional sprinkler systems. They utilize fewer volumes of water by using high pressure to create a fine mist. When the water droplets come into contact with fire they turn to steam, absorbing heat and displacing oxygen to smother the fire. 

  • Condensed aerosol fire suppression releases a dense cloud of ultra-fine particles and gases that interfere with combustion, absorbing heat, dramatically lowering the temperature, and depriving fire of the energy needed to sustain itself. This technology is also environmentally friendly and creates minimal residue. 

  • Drones equipped with LIDAR and thermal imaging cameras provide firefighters with invaluable insights into the geography, location, and spread of fires. As drone technology continues to advance, they can also be utilized to drop retardants or extinguishing agents dangerous or inaccessible areas. 

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics are being used to analyze large quantities of data to predict risks and fire behavior and to develop effective firefighting strategies. 

As we move towards a hotter and more uncertain future, it is imperative that we do everything we can to provide freighters with the latest knowledge and leading-edge technology to protect people, property, and irreplaceable natural resources. The future is here now, and it looks like it will continue getting warmer and more dangerous. 

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Erin Jewell
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