In 2018, the Camp Fire raced through Paradise, California, and destroyed the town, killing dozens of people.
But many residents were saved by taking shelter in a local park, which was spared from the flames.
Glaser: “The fire had burned right up to the edge of the park and stopped there. There are actually pictures where you can see all the burn around.”
Deborah Glaser is a disaster specialist with the Nature Conservancy.
She says the open space helped slow the fire down.
Glaser: “The park is irrigated. And there’s a break from the fuel that carries fire through a forest.”
So now Glaser and others are trying to create a ring of firebreaks around Paradise to protect the town from future fires.
These firebreaks could include more parks as well as fields, pastures, or orchards.
Hiking trails and private properties that are managed to reduce fire risk could also help prevent the flames from reaching town.
Glaser: “The idea is that you stitch them together as a protection to the community. … There’s this buffer that slows the fire as it comes in, and it gives firefighters a chance to respond and manage the fire before it gets into the community.”
Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme wildfires. But creating rings of fire-resistant land around populated areas could help keep people safe.
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
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