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.
From Australia.
So there are many reasons people die in fire. It can happen if they’ve chosen to protect their home, and so stay, and unfortuntely just arent’t prepared for it.
Another common way, is leaving far too late, and getting cornered off, being unable to leave.
Sometimes the window for leaving can be very small, I recall last fire season that some people got a warning of the fire and it was already basically ontop of them, as the fire traveled very very fast.
My methods for dealing with fire season are:
Pack important things in a box. I.e ID. Idea is, if i read “leave now” i simply grab the box, and flee. Dont want to be fucking about finding shit as the sky turns red. Also, pet carriers. Dont forget your furry friends.
Know my exits. If the fire is coming from the west, what is the eastern exit?
In australia, theres a rating “catastrophic”. In that event, I just leave.
Also check any emergency service information constantly, maybe chuck on the radio (in australia the abc reports fire developments)
As you eluded to, check up on your neighbours. Disaster response is a community effort.
Fortuntely been lucky enough to only deal with the one proper fire scare, where we had to leave. We were very unprepared for it, coming from the city.
EDIT: final one I swear: in australia, there are shelters of last resort. Not sure if other countries like spain or italy have that, but figuring out at least an equivalent and knowing where they are is important aswell.
Ahhh of course routes get blocked off. That hadn’t occurred to me. And it changes constantly. This is really interesting thanks
What do you have in your box? Do you take food and supplies? Where do people try to flee to?
Routes getting blocked off was a big deal in the Lahnia (Hawaii) fires a few years ago. There was essentially one route out of the area and everyone trying to get out put it basically a a super dangerous stand still when the fire intersect the exit route.
For the box:
Birth certificate, passport, emotionally important and irreplacable things. Bringing some food / water ofc is important, given the risk of heat strokes on hot days.
In terms of where I flee, I pick some nearby towns that are basically kilometers of concrete and ashphalt, and not right next to a forest. Talk to some friends that are in safer areas before hand about potentially staying over.
Another option for me is to go the city, and just book a hotel.
That’s really interesting thanks.
More pet stuff: if your in the common habit of having your pets run outside, keep them in during bad fire conditions ofc.