The sad wildfires in spain made me wonder this, especially as climate change means there’ll be more fires. I know groups like disabled people and their families are slower to get out, causing risk. But is it more that the fire is too fast, or that some people just don’t leave fast enough?
Just wondering what could be done to reduce deaths.
I don’t think that’s either/or. You’ll inevitably get the folks determined to defend their houses, those who underestimate the danger, those who were surprised by fires, those who were incapable of moving to safety faster. All of the above. Once a fire started, they can kind of forecast where it will be going. But you don’t know where it will start exactly.
I think the only sensible thing is to encourage the elderly and those who might need help evacuating to do this up front. That is before the season starts or better still permanently. Move care facilities out of forested areas. Inform the public about the dangers. And hope for the best.
Edit: I just read that the victims are probably mostly foreign tourists. So I add as a recommendation: make information available in other languages.
Yep and tourists don’t know the area, don’t know what info to monitor, and don’t understand the dangers properly.