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Lessons Learned
A Wildfire could impact your life!
As an increasing number of people inhabit forested areas, the threat of property losses due to a wildfire greatly increase. This influx of people along with already present vegetation has made it more difficult to contain wildfires in the urban-wildland interface areas. While in the past, firefighters could focus on fire suppression over an entire area, now wildland firefighters must spread their resources to protect homes and entire communities. To see how a wildfire could affect the Anchorage area, the FARSITE model has been created to simulate the potential for a Hillside wildfire to spread. By creating firewise communities, we can help to reduce the risk of loss due to wildfire in the future.
These are just a few examples of wildfires that have occurred in and outside of Alaska, having great impacts on life and property. For more information on the status of current wildfires, visit the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) site, or visit Firehouse.com for articles on wildfires.
California, 2003
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For two weeks in the early fall of 2003, thirteen fires blazed across southern California to form what the media deemed "Firestorm 2003." A total of 750,000 acres were burned, costing an estimated $120 million and requiring 12,000 firefighters for suppression efforts. Billions of dollars in damage were reported, with 4000 homes completely destroyed. 22 human lives were lost, over half of which occurred during last minute evacuation attempts.
These fires were unprecedented in scope and impact, but many experts feel that events of this magnitude will continue to occur. Conditions that accelerated the extreme fires in southern California such as drought, tree mortality from insect infestation, high fuel loads, and expansion of the wildland urban interface are increasingly common across the western United States, including Alaska. A Type 1 Incident Commander who worked the California fires stated, "This fire season is not abnormal, but the new normal."
**Source: Southern California Firestorm 2003: Report for the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
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Australia, 2001-2002
| The "Black Christmas" Fires near Sydney, Australia began on Christmas Day, 2001. Firefighters from across Australia fought 100 fires (many started by arsonists) that covered an area of 2,000km (1,250 miles). Dry conditions and strong winds caused the fires to spread rapidly. Over 160 homes were destroyed, with damage estimated at A$70 million (US$36 million). |
Kenai Lake, Alaska, 2001
| The Kenai Lake fire is another example of a prescribed burn that expanded into a wildland fire with full suppression needs. The fire was fanned by 25 mph west winds and approached the Seward Highway and several communities. Hundreds of firefighters were called to battle the flames, and several campers were evacuated from area campgrounds. |
Bitterroot, Montana, 2000
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In the summer of 2000, fires burned over nearly 20 percent of the Bitterroot National Forest. Dry lightning storms ignited several small fires, which grew together to create the largest fire in the area in over 100 years. Over 350,000 acres burned, bringing thousands of firefighters from around the world to assist in fighting the fires. More than 1,500 people in Ravalli County were evacuated from homes. Seventy homes, 170 other structures and 94 vehicles were destroyed. On the bright side, over 1,700 threatened residences were saved.
The magnitude of the Bitterroot fires of 2000 was affected by several factors. Dry weather throughout the winter, spring and summer months led to the drought conditions, which caused rapid spread of wildfires. The lack of moisture led to extremely dry vegetation, which fueled the fires, causing them to grow out of control. Another factor affecting the Bitterroot fires was the shortage of firefighter resources, because of several large fires burning over the western states. While firefighters did prevent much of the damage that could have occurred, all available resources were exhausted, and firefighting teams called on the military for assistance, as well as firefighting teams from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
**Source: U.S. Forest Service, Bitterroot Fire Recovery Report
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Cerro Grande, New Mexico, 2000
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The prescribed burn that engulfed Los Alamos, New Mexico, and nearby towns in mid-May shows the importance of responsible forest management for communities near forested public and private lands.
Using an approved plan, National Park officials ignited a prescribed burn May 4 at Bandelier National Monument. Due to changes in the wind, the fire soon burned out of control. By May 10, the fire had burned 18,000 acres, destroying 235 homes, and damaging many other structures. Over 18,000 people were evacuated as the fire approached the towns of Los Alamos and White Rock. Before the fire was contained, over 45,000 acres were destroyed.
Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt appointed a Fire Investigation/Fact-Finding Team, which concluded that that government officials "failed to properly plan and implement the Upper Frijoles Prescribed Fire, which became known as the Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire." The team's findings indicated that mistakes were made throughout the planning and implementation of the prescribed burn.
** Source: National Park Service, Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire Investigation Report, May 18th 2000
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Millers Reach, Alaska, 1996
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During June in 1996, the Millers Reach fire burned across 37,336 acres in Alaska. The fire destroyed more than 400 structures at a cost of more than $15 million. Fire mitigation experts from around the country came to assist in the efforts to contain the fire, and saw similarities in the conditions of the Miller's Reach area with other areas around Anchorage, including Hillside, Rabbit Creek, Girdwood, and Peters Creek. These extreme dry conditions, coupled with high winds, could lead to a catastrophic wildfire, comparable to past fires in Bend, Oregon and the Oakland/Berkeley Hills area fire in 1991 in terms of cost and property losses.
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O'Malley/Hillside Fire, 1973
| In May of 1973, a small brush fire at a private home, fanned by 40 mph winds, burned out of control in the foothills of the Chugach range. The fire threatened 25 homes, and forced several families to evacuate. By the time firefighters contained the blaze, 300 acres of brush and timber were destroyed. A similar fire in this area today would be devastating, with the potential for great losses. |
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